Increased levels of a subset of angiogenesis-related plasma proteins in essential thrombocythemia

BACKGROUND: Increased local angiogenesis is important for the growth and dissemination of cancer. The myeloproliferative neoplasm essential thrombocythemia (ET) is known to involve increased bone marrow angiogenesis. Blood levels of several angiogenesis-related proteins are increased in different types of cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate whether a subset of such proteins was elevated in treatment-naïve ET patients. METHODS: Blood plasma from 41 ET patients and 43 healthy aged-matched controls was analyzed for eight different angiogenesis-related proteins. RESULTS: The ET cohort displayed a more homogenous expression pattern of these proteins compared with controls. Five of the eight proteins were significantly increased in ET patients. CONCLUSION: Increased plasma levels of matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9) and endostatin have not previously been reported in ET. In our patients, MMP9 levels correlated positively with Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) V617F allele burden and leukocyte count.