Background/Aim:Some biological factors play a role in stimulation of malignant growth, metastasis and angiogenesis; however, their clinical relevance has not yet been well established for most of them. This work was aimed at studying the clinical relevance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin -6 (IL-6), in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC).Materials and Methods:Preoperative serum levels of VEGF and IL-6 were measured by enzyme -linked immuno -assay in 35 CRC patients and in 30 healthy controls.Results:CRC patients with or without metastasis had significantly higher VEGF and IL-6 levels than healthy controls (all P < 0.001). Patients with advanced clinical stage had significantly higher levels of VEGF and IL-6 than those with early clinical stage (all P < 0.001). Also, patients with metastatic disease had significantly higher VEGF and IL-6 levels than those with localized disease (all P < 0.001). The diagnostic accuracy for invasiveness was 83% for VEGF (cut off value = 240 pg/ml) and 66% for IL-6 (cut off value = 6.7 pg/ml), with sensitivity 79% and 74% and specificity 68% and 59%, respectively.Conclusion:In CRC patients, preoperative measurement of serum VEGF and Il-6 may prove useful non-invasive diagnostic indicators associated with advanced clinical stage and tumor metastasis that warrants further investigations.

is one of the pioneer programs in Egypt to use hybrid PBL as the main instructional method, this was a huge mind shift to our students and faculty as well. Running the system throughout more than fifteen years without getting insight to what is perceived actually by our student and faculty was the main aim of this study. It is needed to evaluate benefits, challenges and identify areas of improvement needed to be embraced.PBL approach is an ideal one to provide students with important skills as SDL & teamwork. PBL needs to be implemented in more appropriate way to maximize its benefits to students. Conducting a continuous faculty training program is a must, based on the faculty needs and studentsf eedback. study aims to:1. Explore students' & tutors 'perceptions concerning the concept of PBL in Mansoura Manchester Medical Program. 2. Explore staff suggestions to improve the PBL process Tutors suggested to use smart boards, update the objectives and cases. Also, to allocate more time for discussion, increase the basic knowledge and follow students' attendance (table 3).Students in the 4 th semester and tutors at Mansoura Manchester Program for medical education were selected to share in this cross sectional study. Two self-administered different questionnaires were adopted after literature review, one for tutors & the other for students. Questionnaires were depending mainly on closed questions rated with 5-point Likert scale and only 3 opened ended questions were used.