Serum endostatin levels are elevated in colorectal cancer and correlate with invasion and systemic inflammatory markers.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Endostatin, a fragment of collagen XVIII, is an endogenous angiogenesis inhibitor with anti-tumour functions. However, elevated circulating endostatin concentrations have been found in several human cancers including colorectal cancer (CRC).

METHODS:

Serum endostatin levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunoassay from a series of 143 patients with CRC and from 84 controls, and correlated with detailed clinicopathological features of CRC, serum leukocyte differential count and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels.

RESULTS:

Patients with CRC had higher serum endostatin levels than the controls (P=0.005), and high levels associated with age, tumour invasion through the muscularis propria and poor differentiation, but not with metastases. Endostatin levels showed a positive correlation with the markers of systemic inflammatory response and a negative correlation with the densities of tumour-infiltrating mast cells and dendritic cells. Collagen XVIII was expressed in tumour stroma most strikingly in blood vessels and capillaries, and in the muscle layer of the bowel wall.

CONCLUSIONS:

Elevated endostatin levels in CRC correlate with systemic inflammation and invasion through the muscularis propria. Increased endostatin level may be a result of invasion-related cleavage of collagen XVIII expressed in the bowel wall. The negative correlations between serum endostatin and intratumoural mast cells and immature dendritic cells may reflect angiogenesis inhibition by endostatin.

• Authors: T Kantola, J P Väyrynen, K Klintrup, J Mäkelä, S M Karppinen, T Pihlajaniemi, H Autio-Harmainen, T J Karttunen, M J Mäkinen, A Tuomisto
• Journal: British journal of cancer (Br J Cancer) Vol. 111 Issue 8 Pg. 1605-13 (Oct 14 2014) ISSN: 1532-1827 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25137019 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Collagen Type XVIII
• Endostatins

Topics

• Aged
• Biomarkers, Tumor (blood)
• Collagen Type XVIII (metabolism)
• Colorectal Neoplasms (blood, complications, pathology)
• Endostatins (blood)
• Female
• Humans
• Inflammation (blood, complications)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Invasiveness