Abstract | BACKGROUND: Angiogenesis plays an important role in progression of colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Evidence from preclinical and clinical studies indicates that vascular endothelial growth factor ( VEGF) is the predominant angiogenic factor in CRC. Indeed, VEGF is expressed in approximately 50% of CRCs, with minimal to no expression in normal colonic mucosa and adenomas. In this study, the expression of VEGF-1 was examined in stage I-IV CRCs to determine its clinicopathological correlates, and association with the response to treatment and disease outcome. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The present series consisted of tissue samples obtained from 360 patients with stage I, II, III, or IV CRC who had undergone large bowel resection during 1981-1990 at Turku University Hospital. Archival paraffin-embedded CRC tissue samples were used to build up tissue microarray (TMA) blocks and VEGF-1 expression was assessed immunohistochemically using an automated staining system. Three different grading systems were applied to evaluate the expression of VEGF-1. RESULTS: Seventy percent of patients with stage IV CRC had positive VEGF-1 expression, while 50% and 47%, respectively of patients with stage II and III CRC had positive VEGF-1 expression (p = 0.005). VEGF-1 expression in the left colon and rectum was significantly higher than that in the right colon (61% vs. 45%, respectively) (p = 0.006). Significant statistical correlation (p = 0.04) was found between VEGF-1 and 10-year disease-specific survival: patients who died of the disease more frequently had a VEGF-1-expressing tumour than did those who survived for 10 years. CONCLUSION: Quantification of VEGF-1 expression seems to provide valuable prognostic information in CRC, particularly in selecting those patients at high risk for disease progression who are likely to benefit from adjuvant therapy.
|
Authors | Riyad Bendardaf, Abdelbaset Buhmeida, Marja Hilska, Matti Laato, Stina Syrjänen, Kari Syrjänen, Yrjö Collan, Seppo Pyrhönen |
Journal | Anticancer research
(Anticancer Res)
2008 Nov-Dec
Vol. 28
Issue 6B
Pg. 3865-70
ISSN: 0250-7005 [Print] Greece |
PMID | 19192642
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
|
Chemical References |
- VEGFA protein, human
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
|
Topics |
- Aged
- Colorectal Neoplasms
(metabolism, pathology, therapy)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Neoplasm Staging
- Survival Rate
- Treatment Outcome
- Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
(biosynthesis)
|