Biomarkers for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor drugs

Angiogenesis is regulated by interactions between vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and VEGF receptors. VEGF-A, VEGF-D, placental growth factor (PlGF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) have tumor angiogenic activity. VEGF-A and PAI-1 levels in the blood may impact the activity of bevacizumab, and VEGF-D levels may similarly diminish the efficacy of ramucirumab. However, the dynamics of these angiogenic biomarkers for anti-VEGF therapy have not been well established; therefore, they were evaluated in this retrospective study, which included two cohorts. Cohort 1 included patients who were treated with cytotoxic agents and bevacizumab as first-line chemotherapy, and Cohort 2 comprised patients who were treated with cytotoxic agents and anti-VEGF drugs (bevacizumab, ramucirumab or aflibercept) as second-line chemotherapy. VEGF-A, VEGF-D, PlGF and PAI-1 levels were measured before starting chemotherapy and were re-assessed every 1–2 months until disease progression. Bevacizumab had reduced benefit as a first-line chemotherapeutant in patients with very low or very high levels of VEGF-A. Bevacizumab increased VEGF-A and PlGF levels, but not VEGF-D or PAI-1. Anti-VEGF drugs offered the greatest benefit to patients with high PAI-1 before first- and second-line chemotherapy. PAI-1 levels were not affected by anti-VEGF drugs. Since ramucirumab increased VEGF-D, it offered less benefit to patients with high VEGF-D in second-line chemotherapy. Conversely, aflibercept offered greater benefits to patients with high VEGF-D, without increasing VEGF-D. These biomarkers may be useful for the prediction of drug efficacy and may predict resistance to anti-VEGF drugs.