Serum VEGFR-3 and survival of advanced gastric cancer patients treated with FOLFOX.
OBJECTIVE
To explore if vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) can predict overall survival in advanced gastric cancer.


METHODS
VEGFR-3 level was assessed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and CEA was assessed by chemiluminescence immunoassay in the sera of 81 advanced gastric cancer patients before treatment with oxaliplatin plus 5-fluorouracil and folinic acid.


RESULTS
Median survival time in patients with a low serum VEGFR-3 level was significantly longer than in those with a higher VEGFR-3 level (15.4 mo vs 7.7 mo, P < 0.001). Patients with a low CEA level had a longer survival than those with a higher CEA level (15.8 mo vs 8.6 mo, P < 0.001). Thirty-nine patients with low VEGFR-3 and low CEA levels had a median survival of 19.7 mo (P = 0.0006). The hazard ratio for patients with a high VEGFR-3 level was 2.443 (P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
High serum VEGFR-3 level is correlated significantly with poor survival. In patients with a high serum level of VEGFR-3, alternative chemotherapy regimens should be considered.
Ni
Xue-Feng
XF
Department of Oncology, The Third Affiliated Hospital, Soochow University, Juqian Road 185, Changzhou 213003, Jiangsu Province, China. nxf2010@hotmail.com
Wu
Chang-Ping
CP
Jiang
Jing-Ting
JT
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D002955:Leucovorin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3 / Q000097:blood*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D002272:Carcinoembryonic Antigen; D009944:Organoplatinum Compounds; D040321:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3; D002955:Leucovorin; D005472:Fluorouracil