The correlation between serum VEGF levels and known prognostic risk factors in colorectal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In the present study, we analyzed serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and its correlation with the other clinicopathological characteristics of patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC).

METHODOLOGY

Seventy-one patients (F/M, 29/42; Mean age +/- SD, 53.3 +/- 13.1 years) were included. The results of serum VEGF were analysed with respect to stage, gender, age, CEA, metastases and topographical tumour localization.

RESULTS

Patients with stage 3-4 disease had significantly higher values of VEGF (253.41 pg/mL +/- 302.24) than patients with stage 1-2 (49.99 pg/L +/- 100.30) (P < 0.003). Patients with the primary tumour localized in the colon had no significantly higher levels of serum VEGF than patients with the primary tumour localized in the rectum (225.97 +/- 324.88 pg/mL vs. 153.76 +/- 205.66 pg/ mL, respectively, P = 0.269). The VEGF expression significantly correlated with serum CEA level (P < 0.01) and clinical stages of colorectal cancer (P < 0.01). The VEGF expression was not correlated with patients' age (P = 0.955) and gender (P = 0.740).

CONCLUSIONS

The VEGF expression significantly correlated with advanced stage, and metastases but not age, gender, and tumour localization. VEGF may play an important role in the invasion and metastasis of CRC. Therefore, VEGF could be applied as prognostic markers in CRC.