THE ROLE OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF) IN THE PROGRESSION OF ADVANCED OVARIAN CANCER

Ovarian cancer, particularly in advanced stages III and IV with peritoneal carcinomatosis (PC), presents significant challenges in treatment and prognosis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been identified as a key regulator of tumor angiogenesis, facilitating tumor progression, metastasis, and resistance to therapy. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration of VEGF in plasma and peritoneal effusion in patients with ovarian cancer and to explore its prognostic significance. A total of 35 patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery were analyzed, and VEGF levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Additionally, high VEGF expression was found to be associated with poor prognosis, reduced progression-free survival, and overall survival in stage IV patients. These findings underscore the importance of VEGF as a potential prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in ovarian cancer with peritoneal carcinomatosis. Further research is warranted to explore targeted anti-VEGF strategies to improve patient outcomes.