Breast Cancer Treatment Decreases Serum Levels of TGF-β1, VEGFR2, and TIMP-2 Compared to Healthy Volunteers: Significance for Therapeutic Outcomes?
, Maria Pospelova 1, Olga Fionik 1, Tatyana Alekseeva 1, Konstantin Samochernykh 1, Nataliya Ivanova 1, Nikita Trofimov 1, Tatyana Vavilova 1, Elena Vasilieva 1, Albina Makhanova 1, Samwel Tonyan 1, Alexandra Nikolaeva 1, Evgeniya Kayumova 1 and Maxim Shevtsov 1,2,3,4,*Round 1
Reviewer 1 Report
In present research, authors examine serum TGFβ1, VEGFR-2, and TIMP-2 levels in breast cancer patients as a marker for fibrosis. I have several reservations, my comments are appended as below:
1.Introduction- authors should clearly indicate the pathology type while describing the role of TGFβ1, VEGFR-2, and TIMP-2 in fibrosis.
2.Patients selection- provide flowchart.
3.How do fibrosis was confirmed in patients? Which parameters were verified?
4. All figures- indicate n and statistical inference.
5.TGFβ1, VEGFR-2, and TIMP-2 levels- authors should present in major pathological grades .
6. Reference list seems incomplete.
7. Provide catalogue no of all used reagents.
Author Response
We would like to thank the reviewer for the provided comments. We have revised the manuscript accordingly and herein provide the revised version.
Comments:
COMMENT 1: Introduction- authors should clearly indicate the pathology type while describing the role of TGFβ1, VEGFR-2, and TIMP-2 in fibrosis.
ANSWER 1: This was corrected in introduction section.
COMMENT 2: Patients selection- provide flowchart.
ANSWER 2: We have added the patients flowchart.
COMMENT 3: How do fibrosis was confirmed in patients? Which parameters were verified?
ANSWER 3: Upper extremity lymphedema and/or limitation of movement in the shoulder joint were used as clinical criteria for fibrosis. The back flow phenomenon was used as an instrumental criterion for fibrosis when upper limb lymphoscintigraphy was employed.
COMMENT 4: All figures- indicate n and statistical inference.
ANSWER 4: This was corrected for all figures.
COMMENT 5: TGFβ1, VEGFR-2, and TIMP-2 levels- authors should present in major pathological grades.
ANSWER 5: This information was added.
COMMENT 6: Reference list seems incomplete.
ANSWER 6: This was corrected.
COMMENT 7: Provide catalogue no of all used reagents.
ANSWER 7: This information was added.
Reviewer 2 Report
I was very impressed by the article 'The level of TGF-β1, VEGFR2 and TIMP-2 in patients following breast cancer treatment' by Krasnikova et al. It is a very well written and well researched work. In the abstract section, the aims, methods and results of the study are given regularly and statistical data are added. Abstract section is sufficient for the study. The introduction is clear and understandable, but it is written too long and should be shortened. Although the material and method are well written, the limitations of the study should be added. In results section, presentation of findings and tables are given appropriately and are adequate but however, it may be more understandable if the 'Correlation analysis of the level of fibrosis molecules' section is tabulated. Discussion, conclusion and references are enough. The language is also very fluent and easy to understand. I recommend minor revision.Author Response
We would like to thank the reviewer for the provided comments. We have revised the manuscript accordingly and herein we provide the revised version.
We have added the limitations of the study into the discussion section, furthermore, we corrected our statistical analysis and clarified the figures.
Round 2
Reviewer 1 Report
accept
Author Response
We would like to thank a reviewer for his comments and acceptance of our manuscript.
