Abstract | Background: Methods: We analyzed the preoperative levels of serum VEGF-D (sVEGF-D) from two independent cohorts of patients with VSCC by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and its protein expression on tumor tissue by immunohistochemistry. Logistic regression was performed to identify the independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis, and Cox proportional hazard model was used for survival analysis. Results: High levels of sVEGF-D, but not tissue VEGF-D, significantly correlated with positive groin nodes and a more advanced International Federation of Gynecologists and Obstetricians (FIGO) stage. In multivariable analysis, a high sVEGF-D level was an independent predictor of lymph node metastasis and worse prognosis. A prediction model based on sVEGF-D, tumor grade assessed on biopsy, tumor diameter, and lymph node clinical evaluation was able to predict lymph node metastasis, reaching C-index values of 0.79 and 0.73 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively. Conclusions: The preoperative sVEGF-D level might be a reliable biomarker for the prediction of lymph node metastasis and prognosis in patients with VSCC, supporting better clinical/surgical decision. Multicenter prospective studies are required to confirm our findings.
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Authors | Antonella Ravaggi, Angela Gambino, Federico Ferrari, Alessandro Olivari, Laura Zanotti, Chiara Romani, Laura Ardighieri, Paolo Antonelli, Giorgia Garganese, Daniela Gallo, Giovanni Scambia, Eliana Bignotti, Enrico Sartori, Stefano Calza, Franco Odicino |
Journal | Frontiers in oncology
(Front Oncol)
Vol. 12
Pg. 818613
( 2022)
ISSN: 2234-943X [Print] Switzerland |
PMID | 35463308
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2022 Ravaggi, Gambino, Ferrari, Olivari, Zanotti, Romani, Ardighieri, Antonelli, Garganese, Gallo, Scambia, Bignotti, Sartori, Calza and Odicino. |