PRELIMINARY RESULTS REGARDING VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF-A) LEVELS IN THE SERUM OF GASTRIC CANCER PATIENTS

The most studied VEGF molecule is VEGF-A (Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor). Its involvement in various neoplastic processes represents an intensely controversial hypothesis. Material and methods: This is a prospective study extending over a period of 7 months, and including 38 hospitalized patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer between 01/01/2011 - 07/01/2011, at the Surgery Departments of the Emergency Clinical County Hospital Mures. Survival rate was determined based on age and gender of the patients, the macroscopic and microscopic appearance of the tumor, and pT, N, M parameters of the resected specimens. All these tumor parameters were correlated with preoperative VEGF-A levels, measured at the Central Laboratory of the Emergency Clinical County Hospital Mures, using plasma samples and a human VEGF ELISA kit with cross-reactivity with VEGF 165 (BioLife Group), according to the instructions provided by the manufacturer. No enrolled patient had any preoperative treatment. In order to establish the reference value for VEGF-A in serum, we tested a group of 14 apparently healthy persons, and we calculated a mean value. Results: The reference value for VEGF-A in serum was 157.3 pg/ml. In gastric cancer patients the preoperative VEGF-A levels were 376, 188 +/- 247.11, showing significant elevation vs. the control group (p<0.001), but it did not correlate with any of the tested tumor parameters. Survival rate displayed statistical correlation with histological type of the tumor, and VEGF-A serum levels, so that patients with intestinal type gastric cancer showed a superior survival vs. those with diffuse type (p=0.0043). A better survival was noted in patients with VEGF-A serum levels over the threshold value of 173 pg/ml. Discussion and conclusions: The VEGF-A levels in serum are significantly increased preoperatively in gastric cancer patients, compared to apparently healthy persons, but they dot show correlation with tumor parameters. As a result it cannot be used as prognostic factor, but it may be an evolution marker. Survival rate is significantly higher in intestinal type gastric cancers, ads compared to the diffuse type, as well as in patients with serum VEGF-A values over the threshold value.