Changes in serum soluble VEGFR-1 and Tie-2 receptors in colorectal cancer patients following surgical resections.
OBJECTIVE
Determination of changes in serum levels of soluble (s) VEGFR-1 and Tie-2 receptors in colorectal cancer patients following resection in the search for novel tumour markers.


METHODS
Forty-five patients with primary colorectal cancer and 29 normal subjects were recruited. Serum sVEGFR-1 and sTie-2 receptors were assayed using ELISA.


RESULTS
sVEGFR-1 was detectable in 27% (10/37) and 12.5% (1/8) of cancer patients prior to curative and palliative resections, respectively, whilst 65.5% (19/29) of normal controls had detectable sVEGFR-1 levels. sTie-2 receptor levels were significantly raised in patients when compared with normal controls (p=0.0018). Furthermore, sTie-2 receptor levels were significantly higher in patients with metastases than those without (p=0.02). sTie-2 receptors demonstrated a significant drop in patients undergoing both curative (p<0.0001) and palliative resections (p=0.012).


CONCLUSIONS
sVEGFR-1 levels were suppressed and sTie-2 receptor levels were raised in colorectal cancer patients. This data supports the potential use of sTie-2 receptor as a tumour marker.
Academic Surgical Unit, University of Hull, Castle Hill Hospital, Castle Road, Hull, HU16 5JQ, UK.
Kin-Fah
KF
Chin
John
J
Greenman
Petra
P
Reusch
Eric
E
Gardiner
Dieter
D
Marme
John
J
Monson
D015331:Cohort Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011446:Prospective Studies; D042787:Receptor, TIE-2 / Q000097:blood*; D012995:Solubility; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
D042787:Receptor, TIE-2; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1