P0227 Utility of pre-treatment serum amphiregulin in colorectal carcinoma

Abstract

Background Amphiregulin (AREG) is an EGFR ligand that plays an important role in tumour progression and metastasis. Upregulation of AREG in colon cancer tissue has been correlated with liver metastasis. We investigated the correlation of serum AREG in colorectal cancer with clinico-pathological parameters. Methods Colorectal cancer patients who received treatment at our institute from September to December 2013 were enrolled. We collected and stored baseline serum before the start of any therapy. Serum AREG was measured by ELISA using Human Amphiregulin DuoSet (R & D Systems, Minneapolis, MN). The correlation between independent clinico-pathological characteristics and serum AREG was analysed. Findings 40 patients were enrolled and included in the analysis: 25 patients with stage I–III disease and 15 patients with advanced stage disease. In the advanced disease group, the mean level of serum AREG was 65.12 pg/mL (±89.49), which was higher than in the localised disease group (23.68 pg/mL [±37.89], p = 0.11). Serum AREG higher than 40 pg/mL significantly correlated with depth of tumour invasion (pT4) and distant metastases (M), and there was a trend toward association with lymphovascular invasion and perineural invasion. Interpretation Serum AREG level is a potential prognostic biomarker in colorectal cancer. We plan to evaluate a larger cohort to confirm the significance of these correlations.