title: Relationship and prognostic significance of SPARC and VEGF protein expression in colon cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) is closely related with the progress, invasion and metastasis of malignant tumor and angiogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using human colon adenocarcinoma tissues (hereinafter referred to as colon cancer) and their corresponding non-diseased colon from 114 patients' biopsies, the expression of SPARC and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were investigated by immunohistochemistry staining to assessment the relationship between SPARC and VEGF, as well as their prognostic significance in patients. Evaluation of VEGF expression level with the same tissues was used to establish the antigenic profiles, and the marker of CD34 staining was used as an indicator of microvessel density (MVD).
  
  
  RESULTS
  SPARC expression was mainly in the stromal cells surrounding the colon cancer, and was significant difference in those tissues with the lymph node metastasis and differentiation degree of tumor. Expression of SPARC was significantly correlated with the expression of VEGF and MVD in colon cancer tissues. Patients with low or absence expressing SPARC had significantly worse overall survival and disease-free survival in a Single Factor Analysis; Cox Regression Analysis, SPARC emerged as an overall survival and disease-free survival independent prognostic factor for colon cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The low expression or absence of stromal SPARC was an independent prognostic factor for poor prognosis of colon cancer. SPARC maybe involved in the regulation of anti-angiogenesis by which it may serve as a novel target for colon cancer treatment as well as a novel distinctive marker.
authors.affiliation: Dept of Pathology, First Clinical Medical College, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan City, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Jian-fang
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Hong-kun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Cai-xia
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Yu-ze
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Yan-b
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jian-zhong
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Rui-bing
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.forename: Hui-xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Zheng
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D055806:Microvessels / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015676:Osteonectin / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D015676:Osteonectin; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A