VEGF Expression and Radiotherapy Outcomes in Cervical Cancer
Author Information
Author(s): Loncaster J A, Cooper R A, Logue J P, Davidson S E, Hunter R D, West C M L
Primary Institution: CRC Experimental Radiation Oncology Group, Paterson Institute for Cancer Research
Hypothesis
VEGF expression in tumor biopsies is a prognostic factor for radiotherapy outcome in advanced carcinoma of the cervix.
Conclusion
High VEGF expression is a significant independent prognostic indicator of overall and metastasis-free survival for patients treated with radiotherapy for advanced cervical carcinoma.
Supporting Evidence
- High VEGF expression was associated with a poor prognosis.
- VEGF expression was the most significant independent prognostic factor in a Cox multivariate analysis.
- There was no correlation between VEGF expression and disease stage, tumor differentiation, patient age, or tumor radiosensitivity.
Takeaway
This study found that looking at a protein called VEGF in tumor samples can help doctors predict how well patients with cervical cancer will respond to radiation treatment.
Methodology
A retrospective study examining pre-treatment tumor VEGF expression in biopsies using immunohistochemistry.
Statistical Information
P-Value
P = 0.0008 for overall survival; P = 0.0062 for metastasis-free survival; P = 0.001 for Cox multivariate analysis.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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