Prognostic value of serum angiogenic activity in colorectal cancer patients.
Angiogenesis, resulting from an imbalance between angiogenic activator factors and inhibitors, is required for tumour growth and metastasis. The determination of the circulating concentration of all angiogenic factors (activators and inhibitors) is not feasible at present. We have evaluated diagnostic and prognostic values of the measurement of serum angiogenic activity in colorectal carcinoma (CRC) patients. Serum proliferative activity (PA) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro, and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels were determined by ELISA in 53 patients with primary CRC, 16 subjects with non-neoplastic gastrointestinal disease (SC) and 34 healthy individuals. Data were compared with clinical outcome of the patients. Although serum from CRC patients significantly increased the PA of HUVEC, compared to culture control (HUVEC in medium + 10% foetal bovine serum (FBS); P < 0.001); our results indicate that serum PA in CRC patients was similar to that of SC or healthy individuals. There was no correlation between serum PA and circulating VEGF concentrations. Surgery produced a decrease of PA at 8 hrs after tumour resection in CRC patients compared to pre-surgery values (186 +/- 47 versus 213 +/- 41, P < 0.001). However, an increase in serum VEGF values was observed after surgery (280 [176-450] versus 251 [160-357] pg/ml, P = 0.004). Patients with lower PA values after surgery showed a worse outcome that those with higher PA values. Therefore, this study does not support a diagnostic value for serum angiogenic activity measured by proliferative activity on HUVEC but suggests it could have a prognostic value in CRC patients.
Gonzalez
Francisco-Jesus
FJ
Medical Oncology Service, Hospital Universitario Virgen de la Victoria, Malaga, Spain. fjgonzalez02@yahoo.es
Quesada
Ana-Rodriguez
AR
Sevilla
Isabel
I
Baca
Juan-Javier
JJ
Medina
Miguel-Angel
MA
Amores
Jose
J
Diaz
Juan Miguel
JM
Rius-Diaz
Francisca
F
Marques
Eduardo
E
Alba
Emilio
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology*; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014471:Umbilical Veins / Q000166:cytology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood* / Q000494:pharmacology
D043925:Angiogenesis Inducing Agents; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A