J Korean Soc Coloproctol.  2008 Oct;24(5):337-344. 10.3393/jksc.2008.24.5.337.

Expression of Hypoxia-inducible Factor-1alpha and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor in Colon Cancer: Relationship to the Prognosis and Tumor Markers

• Choi YY
• Cho HD
• Park DG
• Kim SY
• Lee MS
• Kim CH
• Cho MS
• Baek MJ

• KMID: 2198872
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3393/jksc.2008.24.5.337

Abstract

PURPOSE: Angiogenesis is one of the key steps in solid tumor growth and metastasis. We investigated the prognostic significance of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha (HIF-1alpha) expressions as markers of angiogenesis in colon cancer.
METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 78 patients with colon or rectal cancer who underwent a surgical resection at Soonchunhyang University Hospital from January 2000 to December 2001, and we evaluated the expression of VEGF and HIF-1alpha in archival tumor tissues by using immunohistochemistry. We recorded the clinical and the pathological characteristics of the patients and analyzed their survival outcomes.
RESULTS
Thirty-four (34) patients were male, and the mean age of all the patients was 66.7 years. HIF-1alpha and VEGF were positive in 56% (44 patients) and 53% (42 patients) of the tumors, respectively. HIF-1alpha expression was significantly associated with several pathological parameters, such as TNM stage (P=0.001), lymph node metastasis (P=0.001). HIF-1alpha expression was also associated with VEGF expression (P=0.032). The survival of patients with HIF-1alpha expression was worse than that of patients with no HIF-1alpha expression (P=0.036). However, VEGF expression was not associated with other pathological characteristics.
CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that, in cases of colorectal cancer, HIF-1alpha expression may be associated with expression of VEGF, progression of tumors, and poor prognosis.

Keyword

Colorectal cancer; HIF-1alpha; VEGF; Angiogenesis

MeSH Terms

Colon
Colonic Neoplasms
Colorectal Neoplasms
Humans
Immunohistochemistry
Lymph Nodes
Male
Medical Records
Neoplasm Metastasis
Prognosis
Rectal Neoplasms
Retrospective Studies
Biomarkers, Tumor
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Tumor Markers, Biological
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A