Clinical Significance Of Serum IGF-1 Level And Tissue VEGF Expression In Colon Cancer Patients

Objective To detect the serum insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) levels and tissue VEGF expression in patients with colon cancer and investigate its clinical significance.Methods The serum IGF-1 levels were determined by immunoradiometric assay (IRMA) and the expression of tissue VEGF was detected by SP immunohistochemical examination in 56 pre- and post-operatively cases of colon cancer ( based on Dukes staging). 14 nontumorous subjects were taken as control group.Results The preoperative serum IGF-1 levels were found to be higher than postoperative ones and that in control group. VEGF expression rate was higher in tumor tissue than normal tissue, and the difference was significant (p<0.05). In patients with different pathological staging, the relations of the serum IGF-1 levels and tumor VEGF expression was significant (p<0.05).Conclusion The serum IGF-1 levels as well as tumor VEGF expression in different stages of colon cancer were proportional to the severity of disease, so the serum IGF-1 levels and VEGF expression may be indicator(s) alone or together for cancer occurrence and progression. Therefore, these indicator(s) may become important diagnostic marker in colon cancer.