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VEGF correlates with decreased patient survival in colorectal cancer

Survival in colorectal cancer patients by level of VEGF expression5

Survival in colorectal cancer patients by level of VEGF expression
In a study of 60 patients with primary colorectal cancer, patients with higher levels of VEGF expression (as defined by the T/N ratio, or the ratio of VEGF in tumorous tissue to VEGF in nontumorous tissue) had poorer overall survival than patients with lower VEGF levels. This difference was statistically significant (P<0.001).5

Adapted from Ishigami 1998. Reproduced with permission from the British Journal of Cancer.

Multiple studies now suggest a strong correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and poor prognosis in colorectal cancer. In one analysis, Ishigami and colleagues collected tissue from 60 patients with primary colorectal cancer, noting the ratio of VEGF mRNA in tumorous vs nontumorous tissue (defined as VEGF T/N ratio). Patients with high VEGF T/N ratios demonstrated significantly poorer survival.5

Overall survival risk ratio for VEGF overexpression

Overall survival risk ratio for VEGF overexpression
In a large meta-analysis conducted in 2006 that included 27 studies specifically investigating VEGF in colorectal cancer, Des Guetz et al confirmed that VEGF overexpression is significantly correlated with poor overall survival, with a risk ratio of 1.65 (95% CI=1.27–2.14; P<0.001). Note that a risk ratio greater than 1 indicates poorer prognosis.4

Adapted by permission from Macmillan Publishers Ltd: Br J Cancer. 2006;94:1823-1832. © 2006.

A 2006 meta-analysis by Des Guetz and colleagues confirms that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression is associated with poor overall survival in colorectal cancer. The researchers analyzed numerous studies of angiogenesis in colorectal cancer, including 27 studies specifically investigating VEGF in this disease setting. In this meta-analysis, VEGF expression was shown to be significantly correlated with poor overall survival and was a stronger predictor of overall survival than microvessel density.4

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