Assessment of Serum VEGF Levels in Ovarian Cancer Prognosis: A Meta-Analysis

Background: This meta-analysis aimed to comprehensively assess the relationship between serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and the prognosis of ovarian cancer. Recently, VEGF has been widely recognized as an important biomarker in tumorigenesis and development. Thus, this study aimed to clarify this association to provide evidence for clinical practice. Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Wiley Library, Web of Science, Wanfang, VIP, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases from inception to June 30, 2024. A total of 2767 records were initially identified and screened; 9 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. Data were analyzed using RevMan 5.3 and R 4.4.2 software. The quality of the included studies was assessed according to predetermined criteria. Results: This meta-analysis revealed that serum VEGF levels were significantly higher in ovarian cancer patients than in the normal control group (mean difference [MD] = 210.00; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 96.92–323.09). In addition, serum levels of VEGF were significantly higher in patients with advanced ovarian cancer compared with those with early-stage ovarian cancer (MD = –173.88, 95% CI: –290.28 to –57.49). Analysis of serum VEGF levels before and after surgical treatment showed a significant decrease after surgery (MD = 242.92, 95% CI: 154.66–331.17). Prognostic analysis showed a significant association between serum VEGF levels and overall survival (OS) (hazard ratio (HR) = 2.48, 95% CI: 1.84–3.34). However, the association with disease-free survival (DFS) was not statistically significant (HR = 1.29, 95% CI: 0.87–1.93). Conclusion: This meta-analysis demonstrates that elevated serum VEGF levels are associated with ovarian cancer progression and reduced overall survival. Although no significant association with DFS was found, serum VEGF levels remain a potential predictive biomarker worthy of further investigation. Future large-scale prospective studies are needed to confirm the clinical utility of serum VEGF in the management of ovarian cancer. Registration: The study has been registered on https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/ (registration number: CRD420251090777; registration link: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/view/CRD420251090777).