Serum VEGF levels in gastric cancer patients: correlation with clinicopathological parameters.

BACKGROUND/AIM To evaluate the predictive role of the circulating levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in gastric cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS This study is a case-control study. We measured serum VEGF levels of 30 patients aged between 34 and 83 years with gastric cancer and 30 patients without malignant pathology, operated on for benign pathologies, with ages ranging from 18 to 69. RESULTS Serum levels of VEGF were correlated with the tumor type classification (signet cell adenocarcinoma) and the presence of adjacent tissue invasion. There was also a positive correlation between serum VEGF and carcinoembryonic antigen levels. CONCLUSION In gastric cancer patients, serum VEGF levels may provide additional prognostic information for preoperative evaluation of invasion and tumor type.