The following items were extracted from each paper: type of cancer, sample size, location of VEGF measured, VEGF isoform studied, methodology of data collection, VEGF diagnosis, statistical format, platelet/leukocyte count and the mean or median value for both healthy and cancer VEGF concentration.
Although self-reported BMI underestimates the true prevalence of obesity in a population, still it can be used to assess trends [ 23] and to compare between countries [ 4], provided the same methodology of data collection is used between studies, which was here the case.
KGF assisted in methodology of the study, conducted data analyses, and edited the manuscript.
The sponsor had no influence on the design and methodology of the study, the data collection, analysis or interpretation, or the preparation of the manuscript.
Due to the methodology of our study, several data are missing because they are not systematically reported in medical records in routine practice.
Marek B – selecting literature, preparing and editing the manuscript; Monika B – preparing the methodology of the study, collecting data, the analysis of results and preparing the manuscript; IM-B – preparing the idea and methodology of the study, monitoring the completion of the study, preparing the manuscript.
Firstly, the study adopted well tried and tested methodologies of data collection and data analysis.
KMC and KGF assisted in methodology of the study, assisted in data analyses, edited the manuscript.
EB realized the methodology of the study, coordinated the monitoring, data management, statistical analysis, interpretation of the data, and analysis of adverse events, and participated in the writing of the manuscript.
DG: contributed to the methodology of the study, interpretation of the data and drafting the paper.
The third section describes the data and the methodology of the study.
