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: Angiogenesis is an important biological process involved in the proliferation of ENDOTHELIAL cells, tumor GROWTH and metastasis. VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF) is considered as a prominent regulator of angiogenesis which exerts the aforementioned effect (s) through its respective receptors (VEGFR1 and VEGFR2). VEGF receptors are targeted as a therapeutic candidate for cancer GROWTH inhibition. RNAi as a new and promising strategy has provided a useful means to specifically suppress gene expression in cancer cells.Objectives: The current study aimed to down-regulate expression of the VEGFR1 using siRNA.Materials and Methods: This experimental study designed specific siRNAs against VEGFR1. Total RNA was extracted from human umbilical vain ENDOTHELIAL cell (HUVEC) and subsequently cDNA was synthetized. PCR was performed using specific primers to amplify the target gene. After double digestion and purification, the gene was cloned into pEFGP-N1 expression vector. Then, AGS cells were transfected with recombinant pEGFP-N1 using lipofectamin. The gene expression and down-regulation were evaluated by fluorescence scanning, reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) and Western blot techniques.Results: Fluorescent scanning, RT-PCR (27.68%) and western blot analysis (31.06%) showed that the expression of VEGFR1 was suppressed effectively.Conclusions: The results of the current study showed that specifically designed siRNA can be considered as an appropriate strategy to suppress gene expression and might be a promising tool to prevent angiogenesis.

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.

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.

Background: Lymphangiogenesis plays an important role in islet inflammation and insulin regulation. In this study, the effect of interval training and liposomal alpha lipoic acid supplementation on serum glucose, blood insulin, and VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR receptor-3 (VEGFR3) was examined in diabetic rat. Methods: 25 male Wistar rats with an average age of 3 weeks, and weighing 159 ± 3 g were divided in seven groups (n = 5) of control (healthy), diabetes + saline, diabetes + supplement, diabetes + exercise + saline, and diabetes + supplement + exercise. To induce diabetes, streptozotocin (65 mg/kg) was injected subcutaneously, and then nicotine amid (120 mg/kg) was injected. Alpha lipoic acid was administered orally (20 mg/kg/day) for 6 weeks. The training program included intermediate interval training, including 6 weeks of training, 5 session per week, consisted of 13 periods of 4 minutes with an intensity of 70-65 percent VO2max running on a treadmill. Active rest between intervals was in the form of 2-minute runs with an intensity of 5-10 m/minute. After killing rats and sampling, pancreatic tissue was sent to the laboratory to examination the expression of VEGFR3 protein by immunohistochemistry, glucose by calorimetric method, and insulin by enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA)-calorimetric method. Data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA in SPSS software at a significant level of P < 0. 050. Findings: 6 weeks of interval training and interval training with liposomal alpha lipoic acid had a significant effect on VEGFR3 pancreatic tissue, glucose, and serum insulin in diabetic rats. 6 weeks of liposomal alpha lipoic acid supplementation had a significant effect on VEGFR3 and serum insulin in diabetic rats. Conclusion: Intense interval training and liposomal alpha lipoic acid supplementation increased lymphangiogenesis and decreased blood glucose and favorable changes in diabetic rats.