Serum macrophage-colony stimulating factor levels in colorectal cancer patients correlate with lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis.
BACKGROUND
Elevated serum concentrations of macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) have been found in a variety of malignant diseases. The aim of our study was to assess correlations between serum levels of M-CSF and clinicopathological features and survival rates in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).


METHODS
M-CSF and the established tumor markers (carcinoembryonic antigen - CEA and carbohydrate antigen - CA 19-9) were investigated in the sera of 116 colorectal cancer patients and correlated with the clinical parameters of the disease and with the survival of patients. We compared M-CSF serum levels in CRC with colorectal adenoma patients. M-CSF was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Tumor markers were measured by microparticle enzyme immunoassays (MEIA).


RESULTS
CRC patients had significantly higher M-CSF and tumor markers levels compared to healthy controls and colorectal adenoma patients, with a significant association between M-CSF levels, disease stage and lymph node metastasis. Serum levels of M-CSF and CEA decreased significantly after radical resection of the tumor. Moreover, the multivariate analysis showed that the serum level of M-CSF in CRC patients was an independent prognostic factor.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest the potential clinical use of circulating M-CSF measurements, particularly in estimating prognosis for patients with CRC.
Mroczko
Barbara
B
Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, Medical University, M. Sklodowska-Curie 24A, 15-276 Bialystok, Poland. mroczko@amb.edu.pl
Groblewska
Magdalena
M
Wereszczyńska-Siemiatkowska
Urszula
U
Okulczyk
Bogna
B
Kedra
Bogusław
B
Łaszewicz
Wiktor
W
Dabrowski
Andrzej
A
Szmitkowski
Maciej
M
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000556:secondary; D000236:Adenoma / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D018256:Adenomatous Polyps / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen / Q000097:blood; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000473:pathology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D015996:Survival Rate
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018395:CA-19-9 Antigen; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor