Table 2.

Plasma levels of tested parameters and CA 15–3 in patients with breast cancer and in control groups

Groups tested		VEGF-A (pg/mL)	VEGF-C (pg/mL)	VEGF-D (pg/mL)	VEGFR-2 (pg/mL)	CA 15–3 (U/mL)
Breast cancer Median Range	I stage	72.59 a/c 1.45–792.10	1941.75 a/b/c 432.22–4353.80	387.48 195.62–1584.30	8381.00 4051.50–12,118.50	16.70 a/c/d 6.20–50.30
	II stage	85.07 a/b/c 13.67–759.38	1860.55 a/b/c 905.50–4586.75	327.86 b/c 181.51–1981.10	8693.50 3066.30–12,937.00	16.90 a/b/c/d 4.40–48.10
	III stage	82.53 a/b/c 36.50–180.26	1788.25 a/c 1034.05–2528.90	376.64 246.55–560.93	8473.00 5717.00–11,073.00	26.50 a/b/c/d 8.90–167.50
	IV stage	98.00 a/b/c 21.60–251.66	1752.35 a/b/c 1286.40–2412.40	317.02 251.97–810.27	8237.50 6549.00–12,545.00	45.10 a/b/c/d 18.50–250.00
	Total group	78.50 a/b/c 1.45–792.10	1830.00 a/b/c 432.22–4586.75	346.83 b 181.51–1981.10	8523.25 3066.30–12,937.00	19.95 a/b/c 4.40–250.00
Control groups Median Range	Benign breast tumor	19.35 11.25–141.24	721.20e 386.11–2581.00	439.87 217.57–1115.00	8005.00 6554.00–10,912.50	12.75 4.00–20.70
	Healthy women	46.79 7.51–197.36	1508.25e 721.20–2849.10	413.80 258.74–1622.70	7947.50 5648.00–12,151.00	13.40 6.30–28.40
	Total group	31.36 7.51–197.36	1229.15 386.11–2849.10	413.80 217.57–1622.70	7959.00 5648.00–12,151.00	13.05 4.00–28.40

^aStatistically significant when compared with benign breast tumor;

^bStatistically significant when compared with healthy women;

^cStatistically significant when compared with total control group;

^dStatistically significant when BC patients stage III or IV compared with BC patients stage I or II;

^eStatistically significant when compared healthy women with benign breast tumor