Pre-operative plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor A, C and D in patients with colorectal cancer.

Abstract

AIMS:

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF-D are angiogenic and lymphangiogenic members of the VEGF family of growth factors. Increased VEGF-C or VEGF-D expression in human tumours may be associated with lymph-node metastasis and lymphatic invasion. Circulating plasma levels of VEGF-A, VEGF-C and VEGF-D were measured in patients with colorectal cancer, and assessed for their usefulness as a diagnostic tool for determining lymph-node metastasis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

One hundred and twenty patients with colorectal cancer and 50 healthy control patients were included in the study. Plasma growth-factor levels were assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS:

No significant differences in plasma VEGF-C or VEGF-D levels were seen between patients subgrouped by clinicopathological variables. In particular, there were no differences in median plasma VEGF-C or VEGF-D level in patients with and without lymph-node involvement (VEGF-C: 11.2 U/ml [range, 4.9-51.9] vs 9.9 U/ml [4.4-93.4 U/ml]; P = 0.90; VEGF-D: 335 pg/ml [113-1102] vs 316.5 pg/ml [0-1343]; P = 0.68).

CONCLUSIONS:

Circulating plasma levels of VEGF-C and VEGF-D do not allow pre-operative identification of lymph-node status in patients with colorectal cancer.

• Authors: S E Duff, M Saunders, V McCredie, S Kumar, S T O'Dwyer, G C Jayson
• Journal: Clinical oncology (Royal College of Radiologists (Great Britain)) (Clin Oncol (R Coll Radiol)) Vol. 17 Issue 5 Pg. 367-71 (Aug 2005) ISSN: 0936-6555 [Print] England
• PMID: 16097569 (Publication Type: Evaluation Study, Journal Article)

Chemical References

• VEGFA protein, human
• VEGFC protein, human
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Cohort Studies
• Colorectal Neoplasms (blood, pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Lymphatic Metastasis (diagnosis)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A (blood)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C (blood)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D (blood)
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors (blood)