Expression and prognostic value of circulating angiogenic cytokines in pancreatic cancer
2011

Circulating Angiogenic Cytokines in Pancreatic Cancer

Sample size: 74 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Rahbari Nuh N, Schmidt Thomas, Falk Christine S, Hinz Ulf, Herber Magdalene, Bork Ulrich, Büchler Markus W, Weitz Jürgen, Koch Moritz

Primary Institution: University of Heidelberg

Hypothesis

The study investigates the expression and prognostic associations of circulating angiogenic cytokines in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Conclusion

Certain circulating angiogenic cytokines correlate with patients' prognosis after resection for pancreatic cancer when considered as a panel.

Supporting Evidence

  • High levels of circulating PDGF-AA were associated with poor cancer-specific survival.
  • High levels of VEGF, PDGF-BB, and Ang-1 were associated with favorable prognosis.
  • Circulating levels of certain angiogenic cytokines were significantly different in pancreatic cancer patients compared to healthy controls.

Takeaway

This study found that some proteins in the blood can help predict how well patients with pancreatic cancer will do after surgery.

Methodology

Serum samples were collected from patients undergoing surgery for pancreatic cancer and analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays and multiplex protein arrays.

Limitations

The study excluded patients who received neoadjuvant therapy and those with a history of second malignancies.

Participant Demographics

The study included 74 patients with a median age of 67.1 years, consisting of 50% men and 50% women.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p < 0.0001 for several cytokines

Confidence Interval

95% confidence interval 1.43 - 14.69 for PDGF-AA

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2407-11-286

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