Prognostic significance of VEGF signaling system components and matrix metalloproteinases in blood serum of gastric cancer patients

Analysis of long-term treatment results of 77 primary gastric cancer patients at stage I-IV of the tumor process followed during 1 - 41 months (median - 6.4 months) from the onset of specific treatment are presented depending on the basal levels of VEGF, soluble forms of its receptors (sVEGFR1, sVEGFR2) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, 7, 9) in blood serum. Overall survival assessed by Kaplan-Meyer analysis and with the help of Cox multiparametric regression model was applied as the criterion of prognostic value. It was found that at high (≥ 420 pg/ml) serum VEGF, the overall survival of patients with gastric cancer was statistically significantly lower than at the marker’s levels below 420 pg/ml (p<0.011): 3-year’s survival comprised 46,3±12,5% and 88,2±7,8% respectively. Median survival of patients with high VEGF level comprised 21.7 months, of those with low VEGF was not achieved during the whole follow-up period. Serum sVEGFR1, sVEGFR2, MMP-2, 7 and 9 levels were not significantly associated with the overall survival of patients included in this study. Only index M of TNM system and serum VEGF level demonstrated an independent prognostic value in multiparametric model (p=0.036). Thus, it was confirmed that VEGF signaling pathway plays an important role in gastric cancer, and its components - in the first place, VEGF A - are substantial factors of disease prognosis, and can also be useful for monitoring of treatment efficiency.