Serum basic fibroblast growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor and tumour growth kinetics in advanced colorectal cancer.
BACKGROUND
The development of new microvessels in the surrounding stroma is a prerequisite for tumour progression. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are angiogenic factors expressed in a broad range of human tumours. We have measured the concentrations of both cytokines in the serum of patients with advanced colorectal cancer. We questioned whether these levels are related to the number of tumour sites, the volume of liver and/or lung involvement and the growth kinetics.


METHODS
44 untreated colorectal adenocarcinoma patients who had developed metastatic and/or recurrent disease were evaluated. Serum levels of bFGF and VEGF were repeatedly measured using ELISA. The extent of target organ involvement and the kinetics of tumour volume growth were determined on consecutive computer tomography (CT) images.


RESULTS
Patients with a tumour volume doubling time of less than 6 months showed a higher bFGF and VEGF serum level than others, independent of the number of sites involved and the extent of the metastatic disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The data suggest a predictive value of serum bFGF and VEGF levels for the progression of disease in patients with untreated metastatic colorectal cancer. The results corroborate the importance of angiogenesis in the process of tumour growth. The serum levels might prove a useful tool in the quantification of angiogenesis and might be of valuable information in the decision process of initiating palliative chemotherapy. It will be of considerable importance to investigate whether the serum bFGF and VEGF levels have a predictive value on the probability of response to cytotoxic therapy.
Dirix
L Y
LY
Department of Medical Oncology, University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium.
Vermeulen
P B
PB
Hubens
G
G
Benoy
I
I
Martin
M
M
De Pooter
C
C
Van Oosterom
A T
AT
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors