OBJECTIVETo investigate the relationship between TSP-1, Angiostatin and Endostatin serum concentrations and progression of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

METHODSFifty-six patients with suspected pancreatic cancer were enrolled in the study and divided into resectable group (n = 32) and unresectable group (n = 24) according to evaluation and staging with dual phase helical CT. Histopathologic examinations included postoperative final pathology and preoperative fine needle biopsies. Peripheral blood concentrations of antiangiogenic factors Angiostatin, Endostatin and TSP-1 were detected by using ELISA methods, selecting samples of health people as a control.

RESULTSSerum concentrations of antiangiogenic factors in pancreatic cancer group were significantly higher than those in health group (P < 0.01). Serum concentrations of Endostatin, Angiostatin and TSP-1 were significantly increased in unresectable group, and highly expressed in patients whom tumor sizes were greater than 2 cm and tumor invaded peripancreatic great vessels (P < 0.05). After operation, serum concentrations of Endostatin, Angiostatin and TSP-1 significantly decreased (P < 0.05). There were no significant difference between I, II stage group and III, IV group.

CONCLUSIONSDetection of serum concentrations of antiangiogenic factors may be used to evaluate the resectability of pancreatic cancer and may play important roles in growth, invasion and metastasis of pancreatic cancer.