Purpose: The matrix metalloproteinases, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases and angiogenesis contribute to growth and spread of cancer. We investigated the correlation between pretreatment serum levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A), and clinicopathologic features and survival in patients with esophageal cancer (EC).
Material/methods: Serum TIMP-1 and VEGF-A were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 89 patients with EC, and 30 healthy controls.
Results: Serum TIMP-1 and VEGF-A levels were significantly higher in patients with esophageal carcinoma than in the control group (p=0.001 and p<0.001, respectively). High levels of TIMP-1 were associated with histological type (p<0.001), tumor depth (p<0.001), stage (p<0.001) and lymph node metastases (p=0.001). Subgroup analysis showed that tumor size (p<0.001), tumor depth (p<0.001), stage (p<0.001), lymph node metastases (p=0.002), distant metastases (p=0.009) and resectability (p=0.003), were correlated with an elevated level of VEGF-A. Patients with elevated levels of TIMP-1 and VEGF-A had a significantly lower overall survival (p=0.02 and p=0.048, respectively), and disease-free survival (TIMP-1, p<0.001).
Conclusion: High serum levels of TIMP-1 and VEGF-A were found to be associated with tumor progression and unfavorable prognosis in patients with EC.