Preoperative serum vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) levels predict recurrence in patients with esophageal cancer.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) levels were measured in patients with esophageal cancer to assess the value of VEGF-C as a biomarker for predicting tumor recurrence.

PATIENTS AND METHODS:

Preoperative serum samples were acquired from 80 patients and healthy volunteers who served as normal controls. VEGF-C levels were assessed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTS:

The preoperative serum VEGF-C level in patients with esophageal cancer was significantly higher than in healthy volunteers. Furthermore, patients with recurrence had significantly higher preoperative serum VEGF-C levels than patients without recurrence, and a high preoperative serum VEGF-C level was found to be an independent risk factor for recurrence, in addition to lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSION:

Preoperative VEGF-C levels may reflect malignancy, such as lymph node metastasis, and predict recurrence in patients with esophageal cancer. Therefore, the preoperative VEGF-C level may be a useful biomarker for choice of multimodality therapy.

• Authors: Hitoshi Kimura, Hiroyuki Kato, Naritaka Tanaka, Takanori Inose, Ahmad Faried, Makoto Sohda, Masanobu Nakajima, Yasuyuki Fukai, Tatsuya Miyazaki, Norihiro Masuda, Ryokuhei Manda, Minoru Fukuchi, Hitoshi Ojima, Katsuhiko Tsukada, Hiroyuki Kuwano
• Journal: Anticancer research (Anticancer Res) 2008 Jan-Feb Vol. 28 Issue 1A Pg. 165-9 ISSN: 0250-7005 [Print] Greece
• PMID: 18383841 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C

Topics

• Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
• Esophageal Neoplasms (blood, blood supply, pathology, surgery)
• Female
• Humans
• Lymphatic Metastasis
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Recurrence, Local (blood, pathology)
• Predictive Value of Tests
• Preoperative Care
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C (blood)