Tissue factor and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in colorectal cancer: relation with cancer recurrence

This study was undertaken to quantify tissue factor (TF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in colorectal cancer and to evaluate their possible relationship with recurrence.

TF and VEGF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in surgical tumour specimens and normal mucosa from 50 consecutive patients with colorectal cancer who were followed up for 3 years for the assessment of disease recurrence.

TF and VEGF antigens were detected in all tumour samples. VEGF, but not TF, was much higher in tumour than in normal mucosa (P < 0.0001), as also confirmed by measurement of specific mRNAs. There was a strong correlation between TF and VEGF antigens (P < 0.0005) in tumour tissue but not in normal mucosa. Neither protein was related to tumour stage, grade or size. Local or distant recurrence was statistically related to pTNM stage. High VEGF, but not TF, levels in tumour extracts were associated with an increased risk of recurrence both by univariate (RR, 4.00, 95% CI: 1.45-11.0) and multivariate analyses (RR, 3.65, 95% CI: 1.33-10.0).

These findings suggest that VEGF content in colorectal cancer is an independent risk factor for tumour recurrence and might help select patients who might benefit from adjuvant therapy.