Raised levels of plasma big endothelin 1 in patients with colorectal cancer

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Abstract

Background: The aim was to assess the role of plasma Big Endothelin (ET) 1 levels as a marker of disease presence and stage in colorectal adenocarcinoma. Methods: Big ET-1 was measured in the plasma of 37 patients with colorectal cancer. Preoperative systemic plasma levels of Big ET-1 in patients with cancer were compared with levels in 20 age- and sex-matched controls. Portal plasma samples were collected at operation in addition to peripheral venous samples. Immunohistochemical staining for Big ET-1 was performed on a selection of primary tumour specimens and liver metastases. Results: Median (range) preoperative systemic plasma levels of Big ET-1 were significantly higher in patients with cancer than in controls (1.0 (0.3-9.7) versus 0.2 (0.0-6.0) fmol/ml; P = 0.0001). Intraoperative portal plasma levels of Big ET-1 were significantly higher in patients with Dukes' 'D' disease than in patients with Dukes' A, B and C disease (2.1 (1.4-10.0) versus 1.2 (0.3-6.6) fmol/ml; P = 0.01). Similarly, systemic plasma levels were significantly higher in patients with Dukes' 'D' disease than in those with localized disease (1.9 (1.2-9.7) versus 1.2 (0.2-8.3) fmol/ml; P = 0.01). The presence of microvascular invasion in the tumour specimens was associated with a significantly raised portal plasma level of Big ET-1 (1.6 (1.5-2.1) versus 1.1 (0.8-1.3) fmol/ml; P = 0.04). Immunohistochemistry localized Big ET-1 to the cancer epithelial cells. Conclusion: The plasma level of Big ET-1 is significantly raised in patients with colorectal cancer. Patients with liver metastases have significantly higher levels than those with localized disease.

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Simpson, R. A., Dickinson, T., Porter, K. E., London, N. J. M., & Hemingway, D. M. (2000). Raised levels of plasma big endothelin 1 in patients with colorectal cancer. British Journal of Surgery, 87(10), 1409–1413. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2168.2000.01536.x

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