Clinical relevance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor and Interleukin-6 in patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract

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.

Mesenchymal stem cells promote growth and angiogenesis of tumors in mice

“…IL-6, which acts as both a pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine, has a critical role in tumor development and progression. Patients with colorectal cancer had significantly higher vascular endothelial growth factor and IL-6 levels than healthy controls, 26 suggesting IL-6 is involved in tumor development. ET-1, which acts as an autocrine/paracrine factor, is expressed and involved in tumor growth and progression in many types of cancers.…”

Interleukin-1 Receptor Type 2 Acts with c-Fos to Enhance the Expression of Interleukin-6 and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A in Colon Cancer Cells and Induce Angiogenesis

“…Angiogenesis is closely related to chronic inflammation (3), which is well known for its key roles in the development and progression of a variety of human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC) 2 (3,4). In the clinic, the serum levels of IL-6 and VEGF are significantly higher in CRC patients than healthy controls (5). Moreover, patients with advanced clinical stage disease have significantly higher levels of IL-6 and VEGF in the serum than those in early clinical stages (5).…”

“…In the clinic, the serum levels of IL-6 and VEGF are significantly higher in CRC patients than healthy controls (5). Moreover, patients with advanced clinical stage disease have significantly higher levels of IL-6 and VEGF in the serum than those in early clinical stages (5). Although VEGF is one of the most potent endothelial cell mitogens (6 -9), IL-6, a critical inflammatory cytokine, may also be involved in angiogenesis in CRC (7,10,11).…”

Alterations of Dendritic Cell Subsets and Th1/Th2 Cytokines in the Peripheral Circulation of Patients With Superficial Transitional Cell Carcinoma of the Bladder

“…IL-6 is closely related to the invasion and metastasis of cancer, which might play pivotal but opposing roles in the host tumor interaction that, together with other immunoregulation components, determines the outcome for the development of local tumor immunity (33). High IL-6 levels have been detected in serum from colorectal cancer patients and shown the poor prognosis (34). Our study indicated that high levels of Th2 cytokines might have immunosuppression function in STCCB patients by suppressive effects on Th1 cytokines or inhibiting DCs function, or both together, which might result in tumor proliferation and recurrence.…”