The crucial role of blood VEGF kinetics in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma receiving curative concurrent chemoradiotherapy

BMC Cancer

Su-Wei Chen¹  Yen-Hao Chen²  Shau-Hsuan Li²  Li-Hsueh Shih³  Chao-Cheng Huang⁴  Yu-Ming Wang⁵  Shang-Yu Chou⁵  Hung-I Lu⁶  Chien-Ming Lo⁶  Chang-Chun Hsiao⁷ 

[1] Department of Anesthesia, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital;Department of Hematology-Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine;Department of Nursing, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital;Department of Pathology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine;Department of Radiation Oncology, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine;Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University College of Medicine;Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University;

关键词: VEGF;    Esophageal cancer;    Squamous cell carcinoma;    Concurrent chemoradiotherapy;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12885-018-4731-9

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background To evaluate the role of blood vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) kinetics in patients with locally advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) receiving curative concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT). Methods A total of 97 locally advanced ESCC patients were enrolled. All the patients had their blood drawn at three time points to determine their levels of VEGF, including pre-chemotherapy (day 0), post-chemotherapy (day 5), and pre-cycle 2 chemotherapy (day 28). The VEGF levels were evaluated according to the day 0 value, day 5 value, day 28 value, day 5/day 0 ratio, day 28/day 0 ratio, and day 28/day 5 ratio. A VEGF cut-off level of 80 pg/mL was applied. Results In the analysis of progression-free survival (PFS), the patients less than 60 years old had significantly superior PFS compared to those more than 60 years old. Patients who had VEGF < 80 pg/mL at day 28 and a day 28/day 5 ratio < 1 had better PFS than those with VEGF > 80 pg/mL and a day 28/day 5 ratio > 1, respectively. In the analysis of overall survival (OS), patients with N0–1 status had significantly superior OS compared to those with N2–3 status. Furthermore, patients who had VEGF < 80 pg/mL at day 28, a day 5/day 0 ratio < 1, and a day 28/day 5 ratio < 1 had superior OS compared to those patients with VEGF > 80 pg/mL, a day 5/day 0 ratio > 1, and a day 28/day 5 ratio > 1, respectively. In the multivariate analysis, only VEGF < 80 pg/mL at day 28 and a day 28/day 5 ratio < 1 represented independent prognostic factors of superior PFS and OS. Conclusions Our study suggests that VEGF kinetics is a prognostic factor for locally advanced ESCC patients receiving curative CCRT. For these patients, lower post-treatment VEGF levels and decreasing levels of VEGF during CCRT are significantly associated with better clinical outcomes.

【 授权许可】

Unknown