Background: Breast cancer is a multiFACTORial potentially lethal disease that is triggered by genetic FACTORs as well as numerous environmental FACTORs. The present research aimed to examine the expression of VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR messenger RNA (VEGF mRNA), cytokeratin-19 mRNA (CK19 mRNA), and VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF) protein biomarker in the peripheral blood of patients with breast cancer.Methods: 40 patients with breast cancer were compared to 40 healthy individuals. The real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (real-time RT-PCR) method was used to determine the expressions of the CK19 mRNA and VEGF mRNA biomarkers in the peripheral blood samples of the healthy participants and the patients. The VEGF protein was also compared using the (ELISA) method.Findings: The positive VEGF mRNA biomarker was observed in 30 of the 40 patients with breast cancer; thus the sensitivity of this marker was 75%. In the healthy participants group, 6 of the 40 participants showed a positive VEGF mRNA biomarker expression. The CK19 mRNA marker was positive in 25 of the 40 patients, which indicated a sensitivity of 62.5%. In the healthy participants group, the positive expression of the CK19 mRNA biomarker was observed in 7 of the 40 participants. VEGF was positive in 27 of the 40 patients. In the control group, 5 of the 40 participants showed the positive expression of this biomarker.Conclusion: In sum, based on the results of this research, the assessed breast cancer tumor markers can be used as screening tests for the early diagnosis of patients. To further prove the findings of this study, more extensive studies with larger sample sizes are recommended.

Background: It is stated that in the absence of angiogenesis، the tumoral tissue will not grow beyond 2 mm3. VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF) plays a pivotal role in angiogenesis and blockade of this process could be applied as a novel strategy for immunotherapy of cancerMethods: PEPTIDE sequences of VEGF-A isoforms were retrieved from protein databases and aligned. Immunodominant epitopes were determined and the selected one was rechecked for dissimilarity with other human proteins. The selected conserved PEPTIDE sequence was synthesized and conjugated with Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). Then، it was applied for immunization of mice. The polyclonal anti-VEGF antibody titer was measured using an indirect PEPTIDE-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) with a Bovine serum albumin (BSA)-conjugated PEPTIDE.Findings: According to bioinformatic findings، the selected 41-aminoacid sequence did not show any similarity with other human proteins and revealed enough antigenicity to stimulate anti-tumor specific responses. A substantial increase of specific antibody titer was observed in vaccinated mice. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of the BSA-conjugated PEPTIDE showed efficient coupling of the molecules. Optimization steps in ELISA procedures revealed that coating of microtiter plates with BSA-conjugated antigen provided more reproducible outcome than unconjugated PEPTIDE.Conclusion: Our results reinforce the potential of KLH-conjugated PEPTIDEs for immunization and production of specific polyclonal antibodies against VEGF-A. Production of high-titer antibodies against this antigen indicates that the designed PEPTIDE-VACCINE could be used as a potential immunogen for stimulation of humoral immune system in animal model.

Introduction: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) emerges from a dysplastic epithelial surface and comprises about 90% of head and neck cancers. VEGF (VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR) is one of the GROWTH FACTORs which directly affects VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL cells and evokes proliferation, migration and chemo taxis of ENDOTHELIAL cells. The aim of the present study was to assess and compare VEGF expression in the normal and dysplastic oral mucosa and in SCC.Materials and Methods: In this analytical-descriptive study, 20 normal mucosa, 20 dysplastic mucosa, and 20 SCC samples, which had been fixed with formalin and embedded in paraffin, were evaluated for expression of VEGF, using immunohistochemical technique and standard biotin streptavidin method. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests at 95% confidence interval (a=0.05).Results: Means of VEFG expression were significantly higher in SCC samples compared to dysplastic samples (p value=0.024). In addition, VEGF expression in SCC samples was higher than that in the normal samples (p value=0.001). However, there was no significant relationship between the expression of VEFG in the dysplastic and normal mucosa samples (p value=0.108).Conclusion: Based on the results of the present study, there is an increase in the expression of VEGF during transition from normal mucosa to dysplastic mucosa to SCC.

Background: Regarding the relatively high prevalence of placenta accreta in pregnancy, and the lack of suitable methods for predicting this complication, this study aimed to determine the role of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (SFLT-1) markers and VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF) in comparison with color Doppler sonography in diagnosis of placenta accreta. Methods: In a cross-sectional study, 78 pregnant women who were referred to Alzahra and Shahid Beheshti hospitals in Isfahan, Iran, in 2017 and 2018 were studied. SFLT-1 and VEGF levels were measured, and embryo sonography was also performed. After surgery, the results of surgery were compared with the results of sonography, and the level of SFLT-1 and VEGF and the agreement of these markers with ultrasound were determined. Findings: There was no significant difference in mean VEGF level in terms of pregnancy outcomes (P = 0. 90), but SFLT-1 level was significantly lower in Eckert group (P = 0. 02). Meanwhile, SFLT-1/VEGT ratio was not different between the two groups (P = 0. 66). Comparison of ultrasound findings and surgical results showed that surgical outcomes and ultrasonography were normal in 38 cases (48. 7%). Moreover, in 16 cases (20. 5%), the results of surgery and ultrasound showed the presence of plementa acrata. The agreement between ultrasonography and surgery was 0. 36 (P < 0. 001). Conclusion: According to the results of our study, the two markers SFLT-1 and VEGF, compared with ultrasound, were not suitable criteria for predicting placenta accreta. At the same time, according to the limitations of this study, further studies are suggested.