Serum HSP70 and VEGF Levels Are Effective Predictive Factors of Chemoradiosensitivity and Prognosis of Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Abstract

Aim The study is to evaluate serum HSP70 and VEGF for predicting the chemoradiosensitivity of the pancreatic cancer patients. Materials and Methods 255 pancreatic cancer patients and 60 healthy subjects were measured for serum HSP70 and VEGF using ELISA for the pretreatment, during treatment, and postchemoradiotherapy timepoints. Results The serum HSP70 and VEGF were found to be elevated in pancreatic cancer patients as compared to healthy subjects. After chemoradiotherapy treatment, 179 patients showed effective clinical response while 76 patients showed ineffective clinical response. Serum HSP70 and VEGF were higher during chemoradiotherapy, and lower posttreatment in the effective group. However, serum HSP70 and VEGF were higher during and after treatment in the ineffective group. At any given timepoint, serum HSP70 and VEGF were higher in the ineffective group compared with the effective group. The overall survival and progression-free survival trends were as follows: HSP70 High/VEGFHigh < HSP70High/VEGFLow or HSP70Low/VEGFHigh < HSP70Low/VEGFLow. Serum HSP70 and VEGF were individually effective, and their combination was even more effective in predicting the chemoradiosensitivity of pancreatic cancer patients. HSP70 and VEGF were independent risk factors for overall survival and progression-free survival of pancreatic cancer patients. Conclusions Low levels of serum HSP70 and VEGF were associated with improved radiosensitivity and better prognosis of pancreatic cancer patients.