Serum vascular endothelial growth factor-C and vascular endothelial growth factor level in patients with colorectal carcinoma and clinical significance.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Case-control diagnostic study comparing biomarker levels in colorectal cancer cases versus healthy controls
PubMed 16961284 · doi:10.1007/BF02829566
What was done
Serum levels of VEGF-C and VEGF were measured via ELISA in 66 patients with colorectal carcinoma and 30 healthy controls to evaluate their accuracy in identifying lymph node metastasis and tumor invasion.
What was found
VEGF-C and VEGF were elevated in colorectal carcinoma patients compared to healthy controls, and higher in patients with lymph node metastasis or tumor invasion compared to those without. VEGF-C at a cutoff of 1438.0 pg/mL yielded 81% sensitivity and 76% specificity; VEGF at 240.2 pg/mL yielded 72% sensitivity and 74% specificity. Combining both biomarkers gave a positive predictive value of 85.3%, a negative predictive value of 94.6%, and an overall accuracy of 93.7%.
Why it matters
Combining circulating VEGF-C and VEGF may provide an accessible, non-invasive biomarker panel to assist in preoperative staging and detection of nodal spread in colorectal cancer.
Limits
The total sample size is small (66 cases, 30 controls) and lacks an external validation cohort. The abstract reports no confidence intervals, p-values, or raw baseline concentration levels, and the use of healthy rather than benign-disease controls may overestimate diagnostic specificity.
Cited by
- supports Cancer presence can lead to elevated circulating VEGF levels in blood tests, which can be measured to monitor tumor progression or active metastasis.