Serum platelet-derived growth factor-BB in adult patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma

Background: The importance of angiogenesis was proved first for solid tumors, and its importance in hematological malignancies was reported later. Aim of the work The present study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the angiogenesis marker plateletderived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) in patients with aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and identify its significance on treatment response. Subjects and methods: The serum level of PDGF-BB was measured in patients with aggressive NHL before and after chemotherapy and compared with that of a healthy control group, and its relationship with certain prognostic parameters was assessed. Results: Pretreatment serum level of PDGF-BB did not show a significant change as compared with the control group. Its level showed no relation to Ann Arbor stages, International Prognostic Index scores, B symptoms, or extranodal involvement. Chemotherapy led to a considerable increase in serum PDGF-BB level in all NHL patients and in the noncomplete responder subgroup. Conclusion: From the results mentioned above it could be concluded that PDGF-BB is not vital in the pathogenesis of NHL. Chemotherapy led to elevation of serum PDGF-BB, reflecting activation of angiogenesis, which can be considered one of the mechanisms of conferring chemoresistance to cancer cells or in identification of patients at risk for developing side effects. Future studies are recommended to prove this effect of chemotherapy. If this effect is confirmed, the use of agents blocking the angiogenic pathway of PDGF-BB in combination with chemotherapy may improve the therapeutic effectiveness and sensitize chemoresistant cells.