J Korean Surg Soc.  2009 May;76(5):307-315. 10.4174/jkss.2009.76.5.307.

Comparative Analysis of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor-A, C, D Expression in Colorectal Cancer with Liver Metastasis

• Chun KS
• Lee KH
• Song IS
• Kim JY
• Kim JR
• Ahn MS
• Lee SI
• Park JH
• Choi SE
• Kang DY
• Song KS

• KMID: 2096551
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4174/jkss.2009.76.5.307

Abstract

PURPOSE
We aimed to investigate the correlations between expressions of angiogenic cytokines VEGF-A, C, D of primary colorectal cancer and liver metastasis. METHODS: We examined paraffin-embedded primary colorectal cancer tissue from 45 patients who had liver resection due to colorectal liver metastasis (metastasis group) and 37 patients who had surgical resection due to colorectal cancer only (control group). In the control group, local recurrence and distant metastasis had not occurred. Immunohistochemical staining for VEGF-A, C and D was performed. We analysed the correlations between expression of VEGF-A, C and D in primary colorectal cancer tissues and clinicopathologic parameters. RESULTS: VEGF-A expressions of primary colorectal carcinoma were not different between the two groups. VEGF-C was more frequently expressed in the metastasis group (P=0.008) but VEGF-D was more expressed in the control group (P=0.003). Patients with VEGF-C negative and VEGF-D positive expression were predominant in the control group (P=0.020). Tumor location, T stage, lymph node metastasis and tumor differentiation were not related with the expressions of VEGF-A, C, D but only preoperative CEA was positively correlated with VEGF-A and C expression. CONCLUSION: Expressions of VEGF-C in primary tumor were more frequent in metastatic colorectal cancer and expressions of VEGF-D were more frequent in nonmetastatic colorectal cancer. More large-scale prospective studies for VEGF-C and D expression in colorectal cancer are necessary.

Keyword

VEGF-A; VEGF-C; VEGF-D; Colorectal cancer; Liver metastasis

MeSH Terms

Colorectal Neoplasms
Cytokines
Humans
Liver
Lymph Nodes
Neoplasm Metastasis
Recurrence
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D
Cytokines
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor C
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor D

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Overall survival of metastatic group according to expression of immunohistochemical staining of VEGF-A.

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  Fig. 2 Overall survival of metastatic group according to expression of immunohistochemical staining of VEGF-C.

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  Fig. 3 Overall survival of metastatic group according to expression of immunohistochemical staining of VEGF-D.

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