Clinical Significance of Serum Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor and Complement 3a Levels in Patients with Colorectal Cancer in Southern Iran

Background: Colon cancer (CRC) is perhaps the second most common cause of cancer mortality. This studydetermined the clinical significance of serum vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and serum complement3a (C3a) levels in patients with CRC in Fars province, southern Iran. Materials and
Methods: Between June2010 and June 2012, 110 patients with CRC of both genders and different age groups were divided into 3 groups.Group A included patients who had just undergone surgery; Group B had undergone chemotherapy after surgery;and Group C had undergone chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery. Twenty one healthy subjects withnormal colonoscopy were considered as a control group. ELISA was undertaken to determine VEGF and C3alevels before and after treatment measures.
Results: The mean age of patients was 53.9±14.1 years. ConsideringVEGF level, a significant decrease was visible after treatment measures in groups A and B, but not Group C.For VEGF level, the difference was not statistically significant between two genders and various age groupsbefore and after treatment. No significant difference was found for VEGF level between patients and normalgroup before any treatment. Regarding C3a levels in 101 subjects, they significantly decreased after treatmentmeasures. Before and after treatment, the difference was statistically significant between two genders, but wasnot statistically significant among various age groups.
Conclusions: As VEGF and C3a levels were significantlylower in patients after treatment, these may be beneficial markers in assessment of CRC therapy especially inearly stages.