The association between preoperative concentration of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor, perioperative blood transfusion, and survival in patients with primary colorectal cancer.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate a possible association between the preoperative concentration of soluble vascular endothelial growth factor (sVEGF), perioperative blood transfusion, and survival in patients operated on for colorectal cancer.

DESIGN

Retrospective study.

SETTING

University hospital, Denmark.

SUBJECTS

614 patients operated on for primary colorectal cancer.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Association between preoperative blood transfusion and preoperative concentration of sVEGF. Association between perioperative blood transfusion and survival.

RESULTS

Blood transfused up to one month before preoperative serum samples were obtained was significantly (p = 0.02) associated with high preoperative concentrations of sVEGF. The frequency of perioperative blood transfusion was significantly (p = 0.0007) higher in patients with rectal cancer than in patients with colon cancer. A multivariate analysis showed that intraoperative or postoperative blood transfusion or both, were significantly (p = 0.03) associated with poor survival in patients with Dukes stage A, B and C rectal cancers, while this association was not found in patients with colon cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative blood transfusion may be associated with high preoperative concentrations of sVEGF in patients with colorectal cancer. Transfusion during or after the operation is associated with poor survival in patients with Dukes stage A, B, and C rectal cancers.