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. 2000 Nov 22;83(11):1425–1431. doi: 10.1054/bjoc.2000.1508

Pre-operative serum vascular endothelial growth factor can select patients for adjuvant treatment after curative resection in colorectal cancer

K-F Chin 1, J Greenman 1, E Gardiner 2, H Kumar 1, K Topping 1, J Monson 1
PMCID: PMC2363412  PMID: 11076648

Abstract

We aim to determine the clinical usefulness of pre-operative serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) as a predictor of outcome in patients undergoing curative resection for colorectal cancer. Serum VEGF was assayed by quantitative ELISA in 81 patients prior to curative resection for node-negative (n = 53) and node-positive (n = 28) disease. Median follow-up for patients without cancer death was 27 months (range 21–37). Pre-operative serum VEGF was significantly higher in patients who went on to develop metastases than those who did not (median, 713 pg ml–1 vs. 314 pg ml–1, P < 0.0001). Using multivariate Cox regression analysis, pre-operative serum VEGF was the most important prognostic factor independent of nodal status and adjuvant chemotherapy, and was superior to nodal status in predicting outcome (P < 0.00001). At 575 pg ml–1, pre-operative serum VEGF was 64% sensitive and 89% specific in predicting the development of metastases in curative resections, with a positive predictive value of 73% and a negative predictive value of 85%. Pre-operative serum VEGF is a powerful predictor of outcome following curative surgery for colorectal cancer. These data support the measurement of pre-operative serum VEGF as a method for selecting patients who require adjuvant therapy. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.com

Keywords: vascular endothelial growth factor, tumour marker, colorectal cancer

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Selected References

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