CONCENTRATIONS OF VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH-FACTOR IN THE SERA OF GASTRIC-CANCER PATIENTS

VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) is known to play crucial rol es in tumor angiogenesis. In 281 gastric cancer patients, aberrant inc rease of VEGF level was observed in 36 patients (12.8%). In 14 recurre nt patients, 8 showed an increase of VEGF. The serum VEGF levels of st age IV cancer were significantly higher than those of stage I. The ser um levels of recurrent patients were significantly higher than those o f stage I, II and III. VEGF levels of patients with serosal invasion w ere significantly higher than those of patients without serosal invasi on. In depth of invasion (t-factor), VEGF levels of 14 cancer were sig nificantly higher than those of t1-t3. In venous infiltration of tumor s, VEGF levels of v3 were significantly higher than v0 and v1. There w as no significant difference with respect to H-factor and P-factor sta tus. In eleven recurrent or advanced gastric cancer patients, serum VE GF was sequentially examined between pre- and post-chemotherapy. All o f them showed a decrease of serum VEGF concentration after partial res ponse by chemotherapy. The patients who had progressive disease after chemotherapy showed an increase of VEGF levels. Serum VEGF levels were closely related to the extent of gastric cancer and the response of c hemotherapy.