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Preoperative serum levels of serum VEGF-C is associated with distant metastasis in colorectal cancer patients

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International Journal of Colorectal Disease Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Vascular endothelial growth factor-C (VEGF-C) is one of the most potent lymphangiogenic members of the VEGF family that has been associated with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we evaluated the relationship of preoperative serum VEGF-C (sVEGF-C) and survival in CRC patients.

Materials and methods

sVEGF-C levels were determined, prior to resection, in a cohort of 120 newly presenting patients with CRC by quantitative ELISA.

Results

Patients who had positive lymph node involvement and higher Dukes’ staging (C&D) were associated with shorter time to metastases as expected (p = 0.002 and 0.001, respectively). Patients with distant metastasis had significantly lower levels of sVEGF-C than those without histopathologically proven disease (p = 0.004). However, there was no significant difference in the median sVEGF-C level in patients with or without lymph node metastatic involvement (91 pg/ml vs. 124 pg/ml; p = 0.81). Patients with a sVEGF-C concentration less than the median value (103 pg/ml) showed a poorer overall survival than patients with sVEGF-C levels greater than the median; but this was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

In this study, low sVEGF-C levels are associated with distant metastasis; hence, preoperative levels may aid in the selection of CRC patients who require further investigation.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Rachel Waddington of ANR statistical consultants for advice on statistical analysis and acknowledge the assistance of members of the Academic Surgical Unit for patient recruitment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Academic Surgical Unit, Division of Cancer, Postgraduate Medical Institute in association with the Hull and York Medical School, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Kingston-upon-Hull, HU6 7RX, UK

    Andrew A. Alabi & Aravind Suppiah

  2. Centre for Biomedical Research, Division of Cancer, Postgraduate Medical Institute in association with the Hull and York Medical School, University of Hull, Cottingham Road, Kingston-upon-Hull, HU6 7RX, UK

    Leigh A. Madden & John Greenman

  3. Division of Colorectal Surgery, Department of Surgery, University of Rochester Medical Center, 601 Elmwood Avenue, Box SURG, Rochester, NY, 14642, USA

    John R. Monson

Authors
  1. Andrew A. Alabi
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  2. Aravind Suppiah
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  3. Leigh A. Madden
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  4. John R. Monson
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  5. John Greenman
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Correspondence to John Greenman.

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Alabi, A.A., Suppiah, A., Madden, L.A. et al. Preoperative serum levels of serum VEGF-C is associated with distant metastasis in colorectal cancer patients. Int J Colorectal Dis 24, 269–274 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-008-0622-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00384-008-0622-x

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