title: Correlation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and CEA with clinicopathological variables in colorectal cancer patients.
abstract: The aim of the presented study is to analyze VEGF levels and its correlation with the clinicopathological characteristics of patients with colorectal carcinoma. Thirty-three patients with colorectal adenocarcinoma and 10 healthy controls were evaluated by estimation of VEGF and CEA levels and correlation with clinicopathological features. The serum VEGF and CEA concentrations of colorectal patients were higher than the healthy controls (p<0.05). Patients in advanced stage had high levels of both markers but these differences were not statistically significant. There was a positive correlation between both markers and, tumor size and peritumoral vascular invasion (PVI) but when compared VEGF with CEA, VEGF had a stronger correlation. Diagnostic sensitivity of VEGF for colorectal carcinoma was higher than the sensitivity of CEA and combining both markers the sensitivity to predict colorectal carcinoma was higher than of each marker alone. Our study indicated that VEGF compared to CEA had a higher diagnostic sensitivity for colorectal carcinoma and might provide even additional information about tumor features.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Ankara Oncology Teaching and Research Hospital, Demetevler, 06200, Turkey. drorhancelen@yahoo.com
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Celen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kahraman
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yildirim
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Berberoglu
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000368:Aged; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A