Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) mRNA isoform expression pattern is correlated with liver metastasis and poor prognosis in colon cancer

Br J Cancer. 1998 Mar;77(6):998-1002. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1998.164.

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a well known factor that induces angiogenesis. Four isoforms, i.e. VEGF206, 189, 165, and 121, have been identified. We examined the isoform patterns of VEGF mRNA using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis in 61 colon cancers. All the colon cancers examined expressed VEGF121. The isoform patterns were classified into three groups: type 1, VEGF121; type 2, VEGF121 + VEGF165; type 3, VEGF121 + VEGF165 + VEGF189. Three of the 61 colon cancers examined showed type 1 expression, 26 showed type 2 expression and 32 showed the type 3 pattern. The patients with liver metastases showed the type 3 isoform expression pattern at a significantly higher incidence (12 of 16, 75%) than those without liver metastasis (20 of 45, 44%) (P=0.036). The type 3 isoform pattern was significantly associated with M1 stage (P=0.019). The patients with colon cancer and the type 3 isoform pattern showed significantly poor prognosis (P < 0.01, Cox-Mantel). The colon cancers with the type 3 pattern showed a significantly higher involvement of veins (P=0.006). These observations suggest that the aberrant type 3 expression pattern of VEGF189 mRNA isoforms is correlated with liver metastasis, M stage, and poor prognosis in colon cancer.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenocarcinoma / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma / surgery
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / mortality
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / pathology
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / secondary*
  • Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous / surgery
  • Colonic Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Colonic Neoplasms / mortality
  • Colonic Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Colonic Neoplasms / surgery
  • Endothelial Growth Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Female
  • Genes, ras
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Liver Neoplasms / secondary*
  • Liver Neoplasms / surgery
  • Lymphokines / biosynthesis*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Prognosis
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Growth Factor / biosynthesis
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Survival Rate
  • Time Factors
  • Transcription, Genetic*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors

Substances

  • Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Lymphokines
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Receptors, Growth Factor
  • VEGFA protein, human
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Receptors, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1