Correlation of postoperative survival and angiogenic growth factors in pancreatic carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) and EGF (epidermal growth factor) are promoters of angiogenesis. It was the aim of this study to investigate a possible coexpression of both growth factors in tumor samples of pancreatic cancer patients in relation to survival after resection of the tumor.


METHODS
We investigated the expression of VEGF165 and EGF in tumor specimen from 19 patients that underwent pancreaticoduodenectomy. Growth factor expression was determined using immunohistochemical methods.


RESULTS
Coexpression of VEGF165 and EGF was observed in tumor samples of 9 (47%) patients. VEGF165 and EGF expression in the same tumor correlates significantly (P < 0.05, Fisher-test). UICC stage III pancreatic carcinoma patients with VEGF165 negative tumor cells had a significantly better outcome after surgery compared to UICC stage III patients with VEGF165-positive tumor cells (median survival time 19 months vs. 9 months respectively; P < 0.05, Wilcoxon-test).


CONCLUSIONS
Antiangiogenic therapy after surgery for pancreatic cancer may be beneficial, especially for UICC III patients.
Knoll
M R
MR
Department of Endoscopic Surgery, University Hospital Mannheim University of Heidelberg, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer, D-68135 Mannheim, Germany.
Rudnitzki
D
D
Sturm
J
J
Manegold
B C
BC
Post
S
S
Jaeger
T M
TM
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D000368:Aged; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor