Serum Homocysteine, VEGF and TGF-β1 dynamic change in colorectal cancer patients prior and post-operation

Abstract

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate the serum homocysteine (Hcy), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) dynamic change in colorectal cancer patients pre- and post-operation. Material and methods: One hundred and eighteen CRC patients treated with surgery (CRC group) and 56 healthy controls (Control group) were included in this work. The serum Hcy, VEGF TGF-β1 were examined by enzymatic cycle and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) of the two groups. We followed patients for 12 months and out of the 118 CRC patients, 14 patients had recurrent disease. Serum Hcy, VEGF and TGF-β1 were measured before and after surgery and repeated every 2 months. Results Serum Hcy, VEGF and TGF-β1 were 16.20 ± 4.79 μmol/L, 492.36 ± 97.32 pg/ml, 29.23 ± 7.47 pg/ml for the CRC group and 8.98 ± 3.02 μmol/L, 315.21 ± 56.28 pg/ml, 7.69 ± 2.31 pg/ml for the control groups. Serum Hcy, VEGF and TGF-β1 was significantly (p<0.05) lower after surgery in both recurrent and nonrecurrent CRC patients (p<0.05). Interestingly, serum Hcy, VEGF and TGF-β1 gradually increased with time. Conclusion Serum Hcy, VEGF and TGF-β1 levels are elevated in CRC patients and may correlated with the post-operative disease recurrence.

Longitudinal Analysis of 1α,25-dihidroxyvitamin D3 and Homocysteine Changes in Colorectal Cancer

“…Homocysteine related molecular pathways are suggested to have a significant role in the development of CRC [17] and its higher serum level has been found as a risk factor for increased incidence of CRC [17][18][19] and diseases progression [46]. Moreover, a study [20] investigated its change with the course of the disease and it has been found that the homocysteine level reduced from baseline levels in CRC patients without tumor recurrence, while homocysteine levels returned or even exceeded the baseline levels in those patients with tumor recurrence. In contrast to the above, our results revealed a swoosh-shaped trend in the change in the homocysteine level of CRC patients, regardless of any clinicopathological features.…”

“…In healthy individuals, its circulating levels are low (5-15 µmol/L, which is somewhat lower in women) [15,16] and inversely proportional to the amount of hydroxyvitamin D 3 in the blood [16]. Higher homocysteine level had been found to be a risk factor for the increased incidence of CRC [17][18][19] and within the first year after primary tumor removal surgery, Ni et al [20] reported a slow but constant decreasing level of homocysteine in CRC patients without tumor recurrence, while an increase has been found in those with relapse.…”