Predictive role of αvβ3 integrin, and VEGF in colorectal adenocarcinoma progression in Iraqi patients

الملخص

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones, is enhanced in various pathological conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic retinopathy, and cancer development. Angiogenic processes are regulated by both growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and adhesion molecules, such as integrin. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that underlieregulation of angiogenesis especially VEGF function, is essential for the development of safe and effective antiangiogenic therapies. Thus, current study was aimedto investigate predictive role of β3 integrin and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein expression in colorectal adenocarcinoma sample from Iraqi patients, through linking its expression with tumor histopathological variables (stage, grade, grade, andlymph node involvement), by using Immunohistochemicalstaining method. Study done on 35 colorectal cancer samples and their respective resection margins.Present study demonstrated that, the positive expression rate of integrin β3 and VEGF in non-tumorcolorectal mucosa (25.33333 ± 1.974842, and 32.4± 1.974842) was significantly lower than that of the colorectal cancer (CRC)tissue (76.47059± 2.878562, and 79.45714±2.293705; P < 0.05). Moreover, when CRC samples breakdown according to histopathological variables, In patients of stage C-D, poorly differentiated, and withlymph node (L.N)invasion, the positive expression rates of integrin β3 were significantly higher than those in patients of patients with stageA,B, well or moderately differentiated,and without lymphatic metastasis (P < 0.05, P < 0.05, and P < 0.05; P< 0.05, P< 0.05, and P< 0.05), respectively. In conclusion Integrin β3 and VEGF expression can synergistically enhance tumor angiogenesis, and may play a crucial role in invasion and metastasis of colorectal carcinoma. Therefore, they may be prognostic biomarkers and novel molecular therapeutic targets. Keyword: Colorectal Cancer, Angiogenesis, VEGF