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Impact of surgery and chemotherapy on von Willebrand factor and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in colorectal cancer

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Abstract

Introduction

von Willebrand factor (vWf) is thought to mediate binding of tumour cells to platelets and to favour their systemic spreading capacity. Platelets involved in tumour angiogenesis are capable of releasing vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Hence, levels of vWf and VEGF may correlate with cancer stage. The objectives are determine the impact of surgery and chemotherapy on vWf and VEGF in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients.

Material and methods

Twenty healthy volunteers (group 1), 14 patients with locally advanced CRC (group 2) and 12 patients with metastatic CRC (group 3) were enrolled. Blood samples were taken at recruitment in group 1, and before and after surgery and chemotherapy in groups 2 and 3, respectively. Blood levels of vWf, VEGF, platelet count, C-reactive protein (CRP), ceruloplasmin and carcinoembrionary antigen (CEA) were measured.

Results

At baseline, group 3 showed higher concentrations of vWf than the other groups (p<0.05). In group 2, vWf became elevated 40% post-surgery (p=0.016), independently of changes in CRP or ceruloplasmin. In group 3, chemotherapy caused a 42% reduction in VEGF (p=0.015).

Conclusions

There was a strong correlation between higher vWf levels and more advanced CRC stage at diagnosis. These levels were elevated post-surgery in patients with locally advanced CRC. Chemotherapy significantly decreased VEGF in metastatic CRC patients before CEA showed any significant change.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Oncología. Clínica Universitaria, Universidad de Navarra, Spain

    Ignacio Gil Bazo, Javier Rodríguez Rodríguez, Juan de la Cámara Gómez & Jesús García-Foncillas López

  2. Laboratorio de Biotecnología, Clínica Universitaria, Universidad de Navarra, Spain

    Victoria Catalán González

  3. Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Navarra, Spain

    Álvaro Alonso Gutiérrez

  4. Servicio de Hematología, Clínica Universitaria, Universidad de Navarra, Spain

    José Antonio Páramo Fernández

  5. Departamento de Cirugía General y del Aparato Digestivo, Clínica Universitaria, Universidad de Navarra, Spain

    José Luis Hernández Lizoain

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  1. Ignacio Gil Bazo
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  2. Victoria Catalán González
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  8. Jesús García-Foncillas López
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Correspondence to Ignacio Gil Bazo.

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Bazo, I.G., González, V.C., Gutiérrez, Á.A. et al. Impact of surgery and chemotherapy on von Willebrand factor and vascular endothelial growth factor levels in colorectal cancer. Clin Transl Oncol 7, 150–155 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02708752

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02708752

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