Effect of maximum-tolerated doses and low-dose metronomic chemotherapy on serum vascular endothelial growth factor and thrombospondin-1 levels in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer

Abstract

Background Angiogenesis is regulated by a balance of both angiogenic inducers and inhibitors. This study was designed to evaluate the effect of both maximum-tolerated doses (MTD) and low-dose metronomic chemotherapy (LDM) on serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) and VEGFR1 concentrations in patients with advanced nonsmall cell lung cancer.