title: Prognostic significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor per platelet count in unresectable advanced gastric cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Angiogenesis is one of the crucial steps in various solid tumor growth and metastasis. However, there are limited data regarding the clinical and prognostic significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels per platelet count in unresectable advanced gastric cancer compared with early gastric cancer and healthy volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 181 gastric cancer patients were included and control serum samples were acquired from 113 healthy volunteers. The levels of serum vascular endothelial growth factor were measured using human vascular endothelial growth factor quantitative enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and survival comparisons were made by the log-rank test in metastatic gastric cancer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant correlation between serum vascular endothelial growth factor levels and differentiation of tumor (P = 0.014), stage (P = 0.036). The overall survival (P = 0.0432) and the progression-free survival (P = 0.0116) were significantly shorter in patients with high serum vascular endothelial growth factor per platelet count (≥1.626 pg/10(6)). In the multivariate analysis, the presence of peritoneal carcinomatosis (P = 0.039), serum vascular endothelial growth factor per platelet (P = 0.005) were found to be significantly associated with poor progression-free survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrates that serum vascular endothelial growth factor per platelet count is correlated with poor overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with advanced gastric cancer.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Anam Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, 126-1, 5 ga, Anam-dong, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 136-705, Korea.
authors.forename: Hee Yeon
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Seo
authors.forename: Joong Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyong Hwa
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Seok Jin
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sang Cheul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.forename: Byung Soo
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yeul Hong
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jun Suk
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000556:secondary; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D018279:Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000556:secondary; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010976:Platelet Count; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012107:Research Design; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000097:blood*; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042582:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C