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Summary: VEGF and pancreatic cancer

Research into the role of VEGF in pancreatic cancer confirms that, as in many other cancers, VEGF plays an important role in the induction of angiogenesis and the growth of tumor microvasculature.¹ Knowledge of the hypoxic pancreatic tumor environment contributes to a functional view that the release of VEGF from tumor cells is a response that leads to an increase in oxygen supply by stimulating the growth of new vessels.²

Studies that examined VEGF expression and IMD have found significant correlations between the two, leading to the view that neovascularization occurs in tumors which are strongly positive for VEGF.¹

High levels of VEGF have been found to correlate with meager prospects for survival in pancreatic cancer. MVD increases with VEGF expression have also been correlated with poor survival, as well as with postoperative disease recurrence.^1,3 These findings may be viewed as prognostic indicators in the management of pancreatic cancer patients.

References:

1.

Fujioka S, Yoshida K, Yanagisawa S, et al. Cancer. 2001;92:1788-1797.

2.

Büchler P, Reber HA, Büchler MW, et al. Ann Surg. 2002;236:738-749.

3.

Niedergethmann M, Hildenbrand R, Wostbrock B, et al. Pancreas. 2002;25:122-129.