Prognostic significance of VEGF-A/VEGF-R and EGF in liver metastasis from colorectal cancer.

Abstract

e15128 Background: Liver metastasis from colorectal cancer dramatically reduces the treatment effectiveness and affects survival. Early detection of metastasis allows increasing the median survival and improving the quality of life of patients. The purpose of the study was to reveal factors significant for the prognosis of liver metastasis from colorectal cancer. Methods: Levels of VEGF-A, VEGF-R and EGF were studied by ELISA in tumors and resection line tissues of 113 patients with colorectal cancer (rectal cancer n = 43, colon cancer n = 70). Results: VEGF-A and VEGF-R levels in all tumors were increased compared to the resection line. VEGF-A levels in 46.5% patients with rectal tumors and in 29% patients with colon tumors were 2.5 times higher than in other patients; the VEGF-A/VEGF-R ratio was 2.9 times higher as well. Besides, these patients showed an increase in EGF levels in tumors by 3.9 times (rectal cancer) and 4.2 times (colon cancer), compared to the resection line. The follow-up demonstrated that the patient cohort developed liver metastases during next 3 months. Conclusions: Neoangiogenesis is activated in rectal and sigmoid tumors, and increasing VEGF-А and EGF contribute to tumor progression and metastasis. The VEGF-A/VEGF-R ratio in tumor tissues in comparison with the resection line value can be a reliable factor for the prognosis of liver metastasis.