title: Prognostic significance of c-erbB-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in colorectal liver metastases.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The prognostic value of c-erbB-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in colorectal liver metastases (CLM) is unclear. The purpose of this study was to clarify the relationship of c-erbB-2 and VEGF with the clinicopathological parameters and the survival results in CLM.
  
  
  METHODS
  For 44 patients who had undergone liver resection for CLM at Fudan University Cancer Hospital from 2000 to 2007, the expression of c-erbB-2 and VEGF in CLM and the corresponding primary cancer specimens were evaluated immunohistochemically. The correlations among c-erbB-2 and VEGF, clinicopathologic factors, and survival were then statistically analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Positive expression rates of c-erbB-2 and VEGF in CLM lesions were 38.64% and 52.72%, respectively. The expression of c-erbB-2 and VEGF in CLM were similar to that of corresponding primary tumor. c-erbB-2 expression correlated with number of metastatic lesions and the distribution of liver metastases. The expression of VEGF correlated with the size of liver metastatic lesion and distribution of liver metastases. A statistically significant association between the expression of c-erbB-2 and VEGF in both CLM and primary tumor was noted. Univariate analysis showed that VEGF was a prognostic factor. However, on multivariate analysis, expression of VEGF was not an independent prognostic marker. Patients with both negative expression of c-erbB-2 and VEGF expression had a better outcome than others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  VEGF might be a statistically significant prognostic factor. The combined analysis of c-erbB-2 and VEGF is of added prognostic value. An association exists between c-erbB-2 and VEGF. However, further studies are required to confirm this issue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Abdominal Surgery, Cancer Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jinggui
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Qingguo
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Changjian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jianghong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Guangfa
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000401:mortality / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A