Relationship between Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A Levels and Response to Chemotherapy in Cervical Cancer

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical cancer ranks second in gynecological cancer worldwide. 62-82% of cervical cancer patients present at an advanced stage and respond poorly to treatment. Assessment of chemotherapy response requires examination of the biomarker Vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A), which is the main regulator of the abnormal angiogenesis process. Objectives: This study aims to analyze the relationship between serum VEGF-A levels and the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy in cervical cancer patients. Methods: This research is Quasi-Experimental, pretest and posttest without control. Total sample: 30 stages IIIB cervical cancer patients underwent a pretest before cisplatin chemotherapy by measuring cervical lesions using ultrasound and serum VEGF-A levels using ELISA. 3 weeks after the third cycle of chemotherapy, a posttest examination is carried out like the pretest examination. Results: The results showed a significant reduction in serum VEGF-A levels and cervical lesion diameter after chemotherapy (p=0.032), (p=0.000). In response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, 21 patients responded negatively, and 9 responded positively. High levels of VEGF-A before chemotherapy gave a negative response (p=0.042) and low levels of VEGF-A after chemotherapy gave a positive response (p=0.049). Conclusions: This study concludes that there is a relationship between high serum VEGF-A levels before chemotherapy with a negative response and low serum VEGF-A levels after chemotherapy with a positive response in cervical cancer patients.