6533b85bfe1ef96bd12bb548

RESEARCH PRODUCT

VEGF-D expression correlates with colorectal cancer aggressiveness and is downregulated by cetuximab

Ines GockelStefan BiesterfeldAnnett MuellerMartin H. HoltmannMarkus MoehlerCarl C. SchimanskiChristian FringsPeter R. Galle

subject

AdultPathologymedicine.medical_specialtyColorectal cancerTransplantation HeterologousVascular Endothelial Growth Factor CVascular Endothelial Growth Factor DCetuximabAntineoplastic AgentsMice SCIDAntibodies Monoclonal HumanizedMiceGrowth factor receptorMice Inbred NODCell Line TumorMedicineAnimalsHumansEpidermal growth factor receptorneoplasmsAgedColorectal CancerAged 80 and overCetuximabbiologyintegumentary systembusiness.industryGastroenterologyVascular Endothelial Growth Factor DAntibodies MonoclonalGeneral MedicineMiddle Agedmedicine.diseaseVascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-3digestive system diseasesLymphangiogenesisErbB ReceptorsVascular endothelial growth factor CCancer researchbiology.proteinImmunohistochemistryFemalebusinessColorectal NeoplasmsNeoplasm Transplantationmedicine.drugSignal Transduction

description

AIM: To gain mechanistic insights into the role played by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) in the regulation of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) in colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: The impact of high-level expression of the growth factor receptors EGFR and VEGF receptor (VEGFR)3 and the VEGFR3 ligands VEGF-C and VEGF-D on disease progression and prognosis in human CRC was investigated in 108 patients using immunohistochemistry. Furthermore, the expression of the lymphangiogenic factors in response to the modulation of EGFR signalling by the EGFR-targeted monoclonal antibody cetuximab was investigated at the mRNA and protein level in human SW480 and SW620 CRC cell lines and a mouse xenograft model. RESULTS: Human CRC specimens and cell lines displayed EGFR, VEGF-C and VEGF-D expression with varying intensities. VEGF-C expression was associated with histological grade. Strong expression of VEGF-D was significantly associated with lymph node metastases and linked to a trend for decreased survival in lymph node-positive patients. EGFR blockade with cetuximab resulted in a significant decrease of VEGF-D expression in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the expression of VEGF-D in colorectal tumours is significantly associated with lymphatic involvement in CRC patients and such expression might be blocked effectively by cetuximab.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2008-07-14
10.3748/wjg.14.4156https://europepmc.org/articles/PMC2725377/