Prognostic role of serum vascular endothelial growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor and nitric oxide in patients with colorectal carcinoma

Cytokine. 2002 Nov 24;20(4):184-90. doi: 10.1006/cyto.2002.1993.

Abstract

Recently, angiogenesis has gained an increasing interest as a prognostic factor in a variety of solid tumours. In this study we aimed to assess the prognostic role of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC).A total of 52 consecutive colorectal cancer patients with stage I to IV disease was included. In addition to routine laboratory and staging procedures, serum VEGF, b-FGF levels, and nitrate levels as a surrogate marker for in-vivo NO production were assayed. Serum VEGF concentrations, adjusted to the platelet count were found to be a significant factor for overall survival in univariate analysis (P=0.033). A new angiogenic index (AI), derived from serum VEGF and nitrate concentrations, was established. AI is the only independent prognostic factor of survival in all patients (P=0.008, Cox regression analysis). Likewise, AI is also significant prognostic factor for disease-free survival (DFS) in patients with operable CRC (P=0.032, Cox regression analysis). In conclusion, serum VEGF and NO levels have prognostic role in patients with CRC and the new angiogenesis index using the serum levels of the factors seem to be useful.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / blood*
  • Adenocarcinoma / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / blood
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / drug therapy
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / surgery
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / blood*
  • Camptothecin / administration & dosage
  • Camptothecin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Camptothecin / therapeutic use
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen / analysis
  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Cisplatin / administration & dosage
  • Colonic Neoplasms / blood
  • Colonic Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colonic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Colonic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / blood*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / blood*
  • Female
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / blood*
  • Fluorouracil / administration & dosage
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / blood*
  • Irinotecan
  • Leucovorin / administration & dosage
  • Life Tables
  • Lymphokines / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Neoplasm Proteins / blood*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / blood*
  • Nitrates / blood
  • Nitric Oxide / blood*
  • Organoplatinum Compounds / administration & dosage
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Prognosis
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Rectal Neoplasms / blood
  • Rectal Neoplasms / drug therapy
  • Rectal Neoplasms / mortality
  • Rectal Neoplasms / surgery
  • Survival Analysis
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • Carcinoembryonic Antigen
  • Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Lymphokines
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Nitrates
  • Organoplatinum Compounds
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Oxaliplatin
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • Nitric Oxide
  • Irinotecan
  • Cisplatin
  • Leucovorin
  • Fluorouracil
  • Camptothecin