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• Angiogenic switch activation

VEGF in colorectal cancer: early activation of the angiogenic switch

Marked increase in VEGF expression and vascular density between
Tis and T1²

Takahashi et al measured VEGF expression in colorectal tumors at the adenoma, Tis, T1, and T2 stages. They found that the most marked increase in VEGF expression came between the Tis stage and the T1 stage. These data suggest that the angiogenic switch is activated, and that VEGF begins to be expressed, early in the development of a colorectal tumor, at the initiation of invasive disease.²

Adapted from Takahashi 2003. Reproduced with permission from Oncology Reports.

In one study, Takahashi and colleagues evaluated the intensity of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) staining in 25 adenomas, 35 mucosal cancers (Tis), 29 submucosal invasive cancers (T1), and 33 muscularis propria invasive cancers (T2). Elevated VEGF levels were apparent in all stages of disease. However, the most significant difference was observed between Tis and T1 tumors. These results suggest that the angiogenic switch is activated early in the progression of colorectal cancer.²

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