Open Access

The role of VEGF in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural effusion in patients with non‑small cell lung cancer (Review)

  • Authors:
    • Yao Chen
    • Nicholas W. Mathy
    • Hongda Lu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: April 23, 2018     https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.8922
  • Pages: 8019-8030
  • Copyright: © Chen et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) is a severe medical condition, which can result in breathlessness, pain, cachexia and reduced physical activity. It can occur in almost all types of malignant tumors; however, lung cancer is the most common cause of MPE, accounting for ~1/3 of clinical cases. Although there are numerous therapeutic approaches currently available for the treatment of MPE, none are fully effective and the majority can only alleviate the symptoms of the patients. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has now been recognized as one of the most important regulatory factors in tumor angiogenesis, which participates in the entire process of tumor growth through its function to stimulate tumor angiogenesis, activate host vascular endothelial cells and promote malignant proliferation. Novel drugs targeting VEGF, including endostar and bevacizumab, have been developed and approved for the treatment of various tumors. Data from recent clinical studies have demonstrated that drugs targeting VEGF are effective and safe for the clinical management of MPE. Therefore, VEGF‑targeting represents a promising novel strategy for the diagnosis and treatment of MPE. The present review summarized recent advances in the role of VEGF in the pathogenesis, diagnosis and clinical management of MPE in patients with non‑small cell lung cancer.
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June-2018
Volume 17 Issue 6

Print ISSN: 1791-2997
Online ISSN:1791-3004

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Spandidos Publications style
Chen Y, Mathy NW and Lu H: The role of VEGF in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural effusion in patients with non‑small cell lung cancer (Review). Mol Med Rep 17: 8019-8030, 2018.
APA
Chen, Y., Mathy, N.W., & Lu, H. (2018). The role of VEGF in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural effusion in patients with non‑small cell lung cancer (Review). Molecular Medicine Reports, 17, 8019-8030. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.8922
MLA
Chen, Y., Mathy, N. W., Lu, H."The role of VEGF in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural effusion in patients with non‑small cell lung cancer (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 17.6 (2018): 8019-8030.
Chicago
Chen, Y., Mathy, N. W., Lu, H."The role of VEGF in the diagnosis and treatment of malignant pleural effusion in patients with non‑small cell lung cancer (Review)". Molecular Medicine Reports 17, no. 6 (2018): 8019-8030. https://doi.org/10.3892/mmr.2018.8922