Prognostic impact of vascular endothelial growth factor-A expression in resected gallbladder carcinoma

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) expression and other confirmed prognostic factors in predicting clinical outcomes after the resection of gallbladder carcinoma (GBC). Between January 1999 and January 2006, a total of 84 consecutive and non-selected patients who underwent resection for GBC were retrospectively reviewed. Of the 84 patients studied, 45 cases (53.6%) exhibited high expression of VEGF-A and were placed into the high expression group. The 14 cases (16.7%) that showed no VEGF expression and the 25 cases (29.7%) that had lower VEGF-A levels were pooled into the low expression group (46.4%). There was a relationship between VEGF-A status and pM stage (P = 0.027) as well as histologic differentiation (P < 0.001). In univariate analysis by log-rank test, ECOG performance status, CA 19-9, pN stage, pM stage, histologic differentiation, and VEGF-A expression were significant prognostic factors (P = 0.015, 0.001, 0.020, <0.001, 0.040, and <0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that pN status and VEGF-A expression maintained independent prognostic influence on overall survival (P < 0.001 and P = 0.013, respectively). VEGF-A expression has a positive correlation with pM stage and histologic differentiation. pN status and VEGF-A expression were independent prognostic factors of overall survival in patients with resected GBC.