Circulating stromal cell derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) is predictive of distant metastasis in gastric carcinoma

This study was conducted to investigate the value of the pretreatment circulating stromal cell derived factor-1 alpha(SDF-1 alpha) in patients with gastric carcinoma. We measured SDF-1 alpha serum concentrations and evaluated the relationship between serum SDF-1 alpha and serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels and clinical factors in 107 gastric cancer patients. Serum levels of SDF-1 alpha and VEGF levels were higher in gastric cancer patients than in controls (p < 0.001). Serum SDF-1 alpha levels were higher in metastatic patients than non-metastatic patients (p < 0.001). SDF-1 alpha levels were correlated with the presence of distant metastases (r = 0.528; p < 0.001) and correlated with VEGF levels (r = 0.789; p < 0.001). SDF-1 alpha might serve as a possible marker for predicting or monitoring distant metastasis in gastric carcinoma.