Pigment epithelium-derived factor expression in colorectal cancer patients

Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis and has been proposed to be a tumor suppressor in a variety of tumors. Limited reports exist of PEDF in colorectal cancer (CRC). We noted a 55% lower plasma level (p < .001) of PEDF in the CRC patient group (1.6 μg/mL) than in of a healthy control group (3.6 μg/mL). A single nucleotide polymorphism (rs1136287, T>C) was screened. In the control group, the CC genotype showed 30% lower PEDF plasma levels compared with the TT genotype (p < .01), whereas the CRC patients failed to show any association regarding these genotypes.