Abstract: Objective To investigate the significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-1 (sVEGFR-1) and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) levels as biomarkers for primary laryngeal cancer (PLC). 
Methods A total of 67 patients with PLC who were hospitalized at Handan Eye Hospital and the Fourth Hospital of Hebei Medical University from July 2019 to December 2020 (considering a follow-up survival period of 3 years) were selected as the observation group, and 25 healthy individuals who underwent physical examinations during the same period were selected as the control group. Fasting blood samples were collected from patients in the morning, and serum levels of VEGFR-2, sVEGFR-1, and IGFBP-3 were measured to analyze their clinical significance for PLC patients. 
Results The levels of serum VEGFR-2 ［(10 697±1 687) ng/L］, sVEGFR-1 ［(95.42±13.87) ng/L］, and IGFBP-3 ［(19 415±1 184) ng/L］ in the observation group were significantly higher than those in the control group ［(8 619±1 721) ng/L, (78.95±15.13) ng/L, (9 547±1 036) ng/L］, and the differences were statistically significant (t=5.227, 4.943, 36.728, P＜0.001). The follow-up period was 3 years, and according to the cutoff value of VEGFR-2, patients were divided into those with ＞8 785 ng/L (high expression, n=50) and those with ≤8 785 ng/L (low expression, n=17). Patients with low expression of VEGFR-2 had poor survival rates, and the difference was significant (χ2=6.735, P=0.009). According to the cutoff value of sVEGFR-1, patients were divided into those with ＞84 ng/L (high expression, n=47) and those with ≤84 ng/L (low expression, n=20). The survival rate of patients with high expression of sVEGFR-1 was poor, and the difference was significant (χ2=3.760, P=0.042). According to the cutoff value of IGFBP-3, patients with IGFBP-3 were divided into those with ＞14 815 ng/L (high expression, n=53) and those with ≤14 815 ng/L (low expression, n=14). There was no significant difference in survival rate between patients with high and low IGFBP-3 expression (χ2=1.940, P=0.164). 
Conclusion Compared with the normal population, PLC patients have significantly increased levels of serum VEGFR-2, sVEGFR-1, and IGFBP-3. PLC patients with high levels of serum sVEGFR-1 and low levels of VEGFR-2 have a poorer prognosis and survival rate. 

Key words: laryngeal neoplasms, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3