Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)/ vascular permeability factor (VPF) is emerging as an important growth factor in a variety of tumor types. As a potent endothelial cell mitogen and vascular permeabilizing agent, VEGF/VPF has the unique functional capacity to mediate the component events of solid tumor neovascularization and ascites tumor growth. In the present series of investigations, our experimental hypothesis was that VEGF/VPF is a critical mediator of ovarian carcinoma-associated ascites formation and solid tumor growth. Athymic nude mice xenotransplanted with human ovarian carcinoma cell lines received either a preimmune rabbit serum or VEGF/VPF antiserum. Compared with the control group receiving the preimmune serum, the antiserum-treated animals displayed a 10- and 12-fold reduction in ascites accumulation and solid tumor growth, respectively. The administration of a neutralizing antiserum to VEGF/VPF conferred a modest survival advantage to animals harboring intraperitoneal tumors. These data demonstrate the significance of VEGF/VPF in the pathogenesis of ovarian carcinoma and suggest that interventions targeting this growth factor and/or its receptor may be of therapeutic value in the management of ovarian cancer.

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