Background
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a heterogeneous hematopoietic malignancy, characterized by the accumulation of uncontrolled growth of hematopoietic progenitor cells in the bone marrow and peripheral blood [
1]. AML is the most common type of acute leukemia in adults, which usually affects the elderly (> 65 years old), and the survival of elderly AML patients is very poor [
2]. Studies have shown that the development of AML is closely related to the interactions between leukemic blasts and stromal cells in the bone marrow microenvironment [
3]. Bone marrow biopsies in AML patients showed more endothelial cells than those who did not have malignancy. AML blasts can produce and secrete vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) [
3,
4].
VEGF, also termed VEGF-A, is one of the most important positive mediators of physiological and pathological angiogenesis [
5]. VEGF traditionally has been recognized as a paracrine factor in both developmental and pathological settings [
6]. It promotes the processes of vascular growth and remodeling and provides endothelial cells with mitosis and survival stimulation [
5]. It has been demonstrated to be closely related to the progression of various cancers and tumor angiogenesis in human [
7]. Expression and activation of VEGF/VEGF receptors are necessary for normal hematopoietic function. The increased level of serum and intracellular VEGF is associated with the growth, diffusion, metastasis, and poor prognosis of solid tumors [
8]. So far, studies have focused mainly on various solid tumors. For example, it has been shown that the level of VEGF is overexpressed in head and neck cancer [
9]. What is more, several meta-analyses have shown that high VEGF expression is associated with poorer overall survival in patients with osteosarcoma, oral cancer, and gastric cancer [
10‐
12].
In hematologic malignancies, VEGF stimulates mitotic responses; triggers growth, survival, and migration; and upgrades the self-renewal of leukemia progenitor cells [
13]. Increased levels of VEGF have been observed in a variety of hematologic malignancies, such as multiple myeloma (MM), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and acute myeloid leukemia (AML) [
14‐
17]. AML blasts can enhance autocrine VEGF signaling, and thereby regulating the angiogenesis induced by paracrine vascular endothelial cells and promoting the progression of AML [
18]. However, the level of VEGF in AML patients remains controversial. One study showed that total serum VEGF in AML patients was significantly lower than that in healthy controls, possibly due to thrombocytopenia in AML patients [
19]. Several studies have shown higher levels of VEGF in AML patients than healthy controls [
20‐
24]. Besides, Aref et al. [
25,
26], Aguayo et al. [
16,
27], and Wang et al. [
28,
29] all showed elevated level of VEGF in AML patients compared to normal control. Wierzbowska et al. [
30] and Dincaslan et al. [
31] showed different results; they showed that there was no significant difference between the AML patients and healthy controls. We conducted a meta-analysis of the topic to further clarify the results.
Discussion
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive and heterogeneous hematological disease that primarily affects older adults and is characterized by the expansion of immature myeloid blasts in the bone marrow [
43]. Although leukemia research has been studied for a long time, the long-term survival of elderly patients with AML remains very low [
44].
VEGF is an important regulator of physiological and pathological angiogenesis, which can promote endothelial cell proliferation and tumor growth, and the level of VEGF is associated with clinical outcome in hematologic malignancies including AML [
13]. In AML patients, AML blasts produce and secrete VEGF, leading to elevated levels of VEGF in serum and bone marrow, indicating that VEGF plays an important role in AML as an autocrine growth factor [
45].
The level of VEGF in AML patients remains controversial. Some studies showed different conclusions probably due to the limited sample sizes, making it difficult to get an objective and actual views. In order to solve this dispute and draw a more objective conclusion, we conducted a meta-analysis. It can increase the sample sizes by combining several independent research results, increase the credibility of the conclusion through comprehensive analysis, and solve the inconsistency of research results, so as to obtain a relatively objective result. To conclude, our meta-analysis showed the increased circulating level of VEGF in AML patients. Of the 649 AML patients included in the 14 studies, Aguayo et al. [
16] included patients with relapse, while Dincaslan et al. [
31] included one patient with relapse and one secondary AML patient, and the remaining 12 studies were all newly diagnosed AML patients. Our conclusion was consistent with a recent review, which indicated that the level of VEGF was elevated in AML patients at the time of diagnosis and at relapse [
46]. A meta-analysis had already shown that patients with high levels of VEGF expression had worse event-free survival (EFS) and poorer overall survival (OS) [
47]. In addition, the level of VEGF was decreased in AML patients after treatment or remission compared to healthy controls according to the review [
46]. This may suggest that reducing the level of VEGF may allow the disease to progress to a better state, or even to a state of remission. VEGF and its receptors may provide promising targets in AML.
This meta-analysis mainly shows that the circulating levels of VEGF in AML patients was increased, suggesting that the high circulating levels of VEGF may serve as a biomarker in AML patients. The increased levels of VEGF may be used as a prognostic indicator to assess the severity of AML disease, providing new insights for future diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment of AML.
Heterogeneity was high in our systematic review and meta-analysis. First, our subgroup analysis showed that the sample size, sample type, region, and age were potential sources of significant heterogeneity. Second, large difference of sample size between AML patients and the control group may be responsible for the heterogeneity. The third point is that some of the data obtained approximately by conversion may lead to the heterogeneity. Next, one third of articles had no criteria for the classification of AML, which may contribute to the heterogeneity. Furthermore, among the 649 AML patients included in this study, different clinical characteristics such as different platelet and leukocyte counts, basic diseases, complications, and tumor load level may affect the level of VEGF, which may be the source of heterogeneity.
There are several limitations that should be noted in our meta-analysis. First of all, there are several articles with a small sample size that may affect our results, and the large gap in sample size between the patient group and the control group may affect the results and may increase heterogeneity. Second, we did not find the full text of five literatures, which may meet our inclusion and exclusion criteria. In addition, we are unable to obtain information from some unreported or unpublished studies. Next, some patients with AML have incomplete age, gender, and other basic characteristics and lack of sufficient data for subgroup analysis. For example, we only had seven studies with age data, one of which is inaccurate, so our subgroup analysis may not be accurate. Furthermore, some of the data obtained approximate figures by conversion, which might bias the results. Last but not least, the current study has not yet been registered online, and although we are still following the steps of systematic evaluation, there may still be small deviations.
Apart from these limitations, this meta-analysis also has its strengths and benefits. First, compared to individual studies, our meta-analysis enhanced generalizability by combining 14 studies from 6 countries. Second, subgroup analysis was performed to further explore potential sources of significant heterogeneity. Third, no publication bias was detected and sensitivity analysis was stable. Fourth, this is the first meta-analysis of VEGF levels in AML patients that provides a relatively reliable result compared to individual studies.
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