OBJECTIVE To analyze the relationship between the characteristics of PET/CT images for lung carcinoma(LC)TNM staging and the expression of serum VEGF protein. METHODS PET/CT examinations were performed before treatment of 53 patients with LC.The expression of serum VEGF protein was examined using a quantitative sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA R and D system).The relationship was analyzed between PET/CT images for LC T-staging and metastasis(lymph nodes and distance)and serum VEGF expression. RESULTS Based on PET/CT images for LC T-staging,11 cases were staged as T1,9 as T2,18 as T3 and 15 as T4.Mediastinal nodal metastases were found in 22 patients,and distance metastasis in 9.The serum VEGF level in the LC patients was(378.02±180.79)ng/L,showing that there was a significant difference between the patients and healthy subjects(P<0.05). There was no significant difference in the level of serum VEGF between different low T-staged(T1,T2)patients.However,the level of serum VEGF was significantly different between the low T-staged(T1,T2)and high T-staged (T3,T4)patients(P<0.05).The level of the serum VEGF protein in the patients with mediastinal nodal metastasis was(561.50±104.55)ng/L,and indicating that there was a statistical significance(t=12.21,P<0.05)compared to those in the non-metastatic group.The level of serum VEGF in the patients with distance metastasis was(614.11±158.81)ng/L,demonstrating that there was a significant difference(t=5.30,P<0.05)compared to those in the nondistant metastatic group. CONCLUSION ① There is a high level of serum VEGF expression in LC patients.②There is a correlation between metastases(lymph nodes and distance)and the level of serum VEGF. ③ With an upgrade of the TNM-stage,the level of serum VEGF protein is elevated.
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