Because of skewed distributions, VEGF and MMP-9 levels are described using median values and ranges. EPC level and VEGF/MMP-9 levels were compared with the SCH727965 solubility dmso log-rank statistic. Data are expressed

as mean ± standard error (SE). P < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results Numbers of EPCs in peripheral blood of ovarian cancer patients We determined the number of EPCs (CD34+/VEGFR2+ cells) in the peripheral blood with flow cytometry. Figure 1A shows a representative flow cytometric analysis from a P505-15 pre-treatment ovarian cancer patient (circulating CD34+/VEGFR2+ cells, 1.61%). The percentage of double-positive cells (CD34+/VEGFR2+) was converted to cells per ml of peripheral blood using the complete blood count. The number of EPCs per ml in the peripheral blood of pre-treatment and post-treatment ovarian cancer patients (1260.5 ± 234.2/ml and 659 ± 132.6/ml) were higher than that of healthy controls (368 ± 34.5/ml; P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). Treatment significantly reduced the number of EPCs/ml selleck inhibitor of peripheral blood in patients (P < 0.05) (Fig. 1B). Figure 1 (A) Representative flow cytometric analysis from a patient with ovarian cancer. Left: flow cytometry gating. Middle: isotype negative control for flow-cytometry. Right: representative flow cytometric analysis for determining the number of CD34/VEGFR2 double-positive cells with a value of 1.61%.

(B) Comparison of circulating EPC levels in ovarian O-methylated flavonoid cancer patients and healthy subjects. Data are expressed as mean ± SE (**P < 0.01, *P < 0.05). (C) Kaplan-Meier overall survival curve of patients with ovarian cancer according to pre-treatment circulating EPCs numbers (P = 0.012). The cutoff value between low and high pre-treatment

EPC levels was set at 945 EPCs/ml of peripheral blood (median value). After a median follow-up of 20.2 months, 26 of the 42 patients (62%) were alive and 16 patients (38%) had died from ovarian cancer. We established the pre-treatment EPC cutoff values (395, 670, 945, and 1220 per mL of peripheral blood; i.e., quartile numbers), which were tested for ability to predict disease outcome. Our results showed that low pre-treatment EPC levels (< 945/ml) were associated with longer survival compared with higher pre-treatment EPC levels (median survival time, 20.4 months, P = 0.012) (Fig. 1C). Relationship between circulating EPC levels and clinical behavior of ovarian cancer Patient characteristics are summarized in Table 1. No difference in patient age or histologic subtype was observed between patient groups. The circulating EPCs levels in the peripheral blood of stage III and IV ovarian cancer patients (1450 ± 206.5/ml) was significantly higher than that of stage I and II patients (1023 ± 104.2/ml; P = 0.034). Furthermore, circulating EPCs levels in post-treatment ovarian cancer patients with larger residual tumors (≥ 2 cm) were significantly higher (875 ± 192.