title: Serum vascular endothelial growth factor/soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 ratio is an independent prognostic marker in pancreatic cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tumor angiogenesis is the consequence of an imbalance between positive and negative angiogenic regulatory factors. We sought to determine the role of pretreated serum angiogenic factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), placental growth factor (PlGF), and soluble vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1 (sVEGFR-1), in predicting clinical outcome in patients with pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  We assessed pretreated serum VEGF, PlGF, and sVEGFR-1 levels in 92 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 60 healthy control subjects using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The correlation between these angiogenesis-related factors and clinicopathologic factors, including staging and overall survival, was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of VEGF, PlGF, and sVEGFR-1 were significantly higher in patients with pancreatic cancer compared with those in controls (583.8 +/- 559.5 vs 187.63 +/- 393.32, 17.65 +/- 7.34 vs 10.93 +/- 1.21, and 50.94 +/- 51.17 vs 15.55 +/- 1.98 pg/mL, respectively; P < 0.0001). A reverse correlation was observed between sVEGFR-1 level and the advance of tumor stage. Cox regression analysis showed that the VEGF/sVEGFR-1 ratio was an independent predictor for pancreatic cancer survival. Higher VEGF/sVEGFR-1 ratio was significantly correlated with poor outcome in patents with pancreatic cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Vascular endothelial growth factor/sVEGF-1 ratio is an independent prognostic factor for survival in pancreatic cancer. Its significance should be assessed when considering antiangiogenic therapy in treating pancreatic cancer patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yu-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ming-Chu
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Shu-Chen
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yu-Wen
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Tien
authors.forename: Chiun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Po-Chin
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Po-Nien
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Tsao
authors.forename: I-Shiow
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.forename: Jau-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000098:blood supply / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins / Q000097:blood; D011379:Prognosis; D012995:Solubility; D015996:Survival Rate; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; C000608036:PGF protein, human; D011257:Pregnancy Proteins; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D000072483:Placenta Growth Factor; D040281:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-1