Original ArticleUpregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), its role in progression and prognosis of non-small cell lung carcinoma

•Significant association of VEGF mRNA with advanced clinical stages and adenocarcinoma histology in NSCLC.•VEGF mRNA (−ΔCT ≥10) was found to be associated with NSCLC.•Quantity of VEGF mRNA can be useful to predict the progression of NSCLC.

Elevated VEGF mRNA (−ΔCT) was significantly associated with adenocarcinoma histology (vs squamous) and advanced NSCLC clinical stages in a univariable analysis; however, this association did not remain significant in the multivariable analysis. Of interest, a Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that NSCLC patients with higher VEGF mRNA (−ΔCT ≥10) had a significantly poorer overall survival and shorter postoperative relapse time in adenocarcinoma and in stage III/IV than those with VEGF mRNA of −ΔCT <10 (P < 0.001). The multivariable analysis confirmed that patients with higher VEGF mRNA levels, as well as with adenocarcinoma and advanced stages, were independent predictors of a poorer survival. However, only the histology of adenocarcinoma remained a significant prognostic factor of a shorter postoperative relapse in the multivariable model. Quantity of VEGF mRNA can be used as a prognosis factor to predict shorter overall survival in patients with NSCLC.