Disease Markers

Review Article

VEGF Overexpression Is a Valuable Prognostic Factor for Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma Evidence from a Systemic Meta-Analysis

Table 1

Characteristics of studies included for the meta-analysis.
First authorYearCountryPatient (P/N)VEGF source MethodDisease typeMethod to determine the thresholdVEGF positive thresholdHR (95% CI) of OS Therapy regimenQuality scoreStudy type
Riihijärvi [16]2012Finland102 (25/77)SerumELISADLBCLHighest quartile 947 pg/mL1.096 (0.435–2.762)R-CHOEP + methotrexate, cytarabine9P
Bortolin [15]2012Italy68 (33/35)SerumELISANHLMedian value250 pg/mL1.21 (0.51–2.89)ACVBP/CHOP/CHOP like + partial rituximab6P
Rujirojindakul [14]2012Thailand79 (NA)SerumELISANHLMedian value516 pg/mL0.99 (0.51–1.9)CHOP/R-CHOP7P
Labidi [17]2010France60 (NA)SerumELISAFLMedian value138 pg/mL1.002 (0.999–1.005)CHOP like5R
Bono [18]2003Finland143 (46/97)SerumELISANHLHighest tertile465 pg/mL1.28 (0.75–2.16)CHOP/CHOP like6P
Niitsu [19]2002Japan149 (73/76)SerumELISANHLMedian value242 pg/mL8.71 (2.57–29.53)CHOP/CHOP like8P
Salven [20]2000America200 (50/150)SerumELISANHLHighest quartile 462 pg/mL1.83 (1.1–3.02)Bleo-CHOP/M-BACOD 6R
Kim [21]2011Korea51 (30/21)Surgical tissue IHCDLBCLPercentage of positive cellsAny staining1.329 (0.695–2.541)Methotrexate-based chemotherapy + WBRT6R
Zhang [22]2011China38 (31/7)Surgical tissue IHCPTLIntensity score and percentage of positive cells scoreMultiplying the intensity core by expressions core >27.633 (1.634–35.714)CHOP/CHOP like9P
Paydas [23]2009Turkey177 (108/69)Surgical tissue IHCNHLPercentage of positive cells10%1.578 (1.03–2.418)Anthracycline containing regimens7R
Citak [24]2008Turkey25 (10/15)Surgical tissue IHCNHLPercentage of positive cellsAny stainingNABFM, LMT regimens7R
Gratzinger [25]2008America172 (75/97)Surgical tissue IHCDLBCLPercentage of positive cells30%NACHOP/CHOP like8R
Pazgal [26]2007Israel36 (21/15)Surgical tissue IHCDLBCLPercentage of positive cells30%2.579 (1.007–6.606)CHOP/CHOP like6R
Ganjoo [27]2008America44 (22/22)Surgical tissue IHCDLBCLPercentage of positive cells10%3.421 (0.941–12.447)CHOP5R
Jørgensen [5]2007Denmark103 (64/49)Surgical tissue IHCFLStaining patternDiffuse pattern2.682 (1.533–4.693)CHOP like + radiotherapy7R
Hazar [28]2003Turkey71 (24/47)Surgical tissue IHCNHLPercentage of positive cellsAny staining1.391 (0.745–2.597)Na4R
P/N, the number of positive/negative VEGF expression; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor; IHC, immunohistochemistry; ELISA, enzyme linked immunosorbent assay; DLBCL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; NHL, Non-Hodgkin lymphoma; FL, follicular lymphoma; NA, not available; HR, hazard ratio; 95% CI, 95% confidence interval; OS, overall survival; P, prospective; R, retrospective.
R-CHOEP, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, etoposide, and prednisone; ACVBP, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vindesine, bleomycin, and prednisone; CHOP, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone; M-BACOD, methotrexate, bleomycin, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and dexamethasone; WBRT, whole brain radiation therapy.