TY - JOUR AU - Petrillo, Angelica AU - Laterza, Maria Maddalena AU - Tirino, Giuseppe AU - Pompella, Luca AU - Pappalardo, Annalisa AU - Ventriglia, Jole AU - Savastano, Beatrice AU - Auricchio, Annamaria AU - Orditura, Michele AU - Ciardiello, Fortunato AU - Galizia, Gennaro AU - De Vita, Ferdinando PY - 2018 TI - Increased circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor C can predict outcome in resectable gastric cancer patients JF - Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology; Vol 10, No 2 (April 08, 2019): Journal of Gastrointestinal Oncology Y2 - 2018 KW - N2 - Background: Neoangiogenesis has proven to be a relevant pathogenetic mechanism in gastric cancer (GC) and lymphatic spread represents an important well-known prognostic factor. Vascular endothelial growth factor C (VEGF-C) plays a key role in lymphangiogenesis and its blood levels in GC patients are easily measurable. This analysis aimed to investigate the prognostic role of preoperative VEGF-C blood levels. Methods: VEGF-C serum levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay (ELISA) in 186 patients observed at our institution from January 2004 until December 2009 and 82 healthy subjects. Statistical analyses were performed using SPSS 21.0. Results: VEGF-C levels were significantly higher in GC patients (median: 287.4 pg/mL; range, 76.2–865.2 pg/mL) than in the control group (median VEGF-C: 31 pg/mL; range, 12–97 pg/mL). A significant correlation between VEGF-C levels, T, N and tumor stage has been described. The median overall survival (OS) was statistically significantly higher in pts with low serum VEGF-C levels [median: not reached (NR) vs. 26 months; P Conclusions: Our study showed that increased VEGF-C levels are significantly associated with advanced regional lymph node involvement and poor OS and DFS in pts with resected GC paving the way to a possible application as prognostic factor in the clinical practice. UR - https://jgo.amegroups.org/article/view/26210