Perioperative serum VEGF and extracellular domains of EGFR and HER2 in early breast cancer

BACKGROUND: The prognostic role of serum levels of molecular biomarkers during the perioperative period in patients with early breast cancer is not clear. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Serum VEGF and extracellular domains (ECD) of EGFR and HER2 were prospectively determined in 119 consecutive patients with early breast cancer on the day before and after surgery. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 93 months, the preoperative value and the absolute change from pre- to postoperative serum levels of VEGF and HER2 ECD did not predict disease-free survival (DFS). A decrease after surgery of EGFR ECD correlated with a statistically significant lower DFS; each 1 ng/ml decrease in EGFR ECD serum level was associated with an increase of event risk of 15% on multivariable analysis (hazard ratio 1.15 95% confidence interval 1.04.-1.28, p=0.006). CONCLUSION: The perioperative absolute change of EGFR ECD significantly correlated with disease outcome of patients with early breast cancer. No correlation was found between preoperative and perioperative absolute change of serum VEGF and HER2 ECD.