Minimally invasive colon resection is associated with a transient increase in plasma sVEGFR1 levels and a decrease in sVEGFR2 levels during the early postoperative period

Introduction: Plasma vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) levels are elevated for 2-4 weeks after minimally invasive colorectal resection (MICR). VEGF induces wound and tumor angiogenesis by binding to endothelial cell (EC)-bound VEGF-receptor 1 (VEGFR1) and VEGFR2. Soluble receptors (sVEGFR1, sVEGFR2) sequester VEGF in the blood and decrease VEGF's proangiogenic effect. The importance of the MICR-related VEGF changes depends on the effect of surgical procedures on sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2; this study assessed levels of these proteins after MICR for benign indications. Methods: Blood samples were taken (n = 39) preoperatively (preop) and on postoperative days (POD) 1 and 3; in most cases a fourth sample was drawn between POD 7 and 30. sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2 levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), which detects free and VEGF bound soluble receptor. Late samples were bundled into POD 7-13 and POD 14-30 time points. Results are reported as mean and standard deviation. The data was assessed with paired-samples t-test. Results: Preop, mean plasma sVEGFR2 level (9,203.7 ± 1,934.3 pg/ml) was significantly higher than the sVEGFR1 value (132.5 ± 126.2 pg/ml). sVEGFR2 levels were significantly lower on POD 1 (6,957.8 ± 1,947.7 pg/ml,) and POD 3 (7,085.6 ± 2,000.2 pg/ml), whereas sVEGFR1 levels were significantly higher on POD 1 (220.0 ± 132.8 pg/ml) and POD 3 (182.7 ± 102.1 pg/ml) versus preop results. No differences were found on POD 7-13 or 14-30. Conclusions: sVEGFR2 values decreased and sVEGFR1 levels increased early after MICR; due to its much higher baseline, the sVEGFR2 changes dominate. The net result is less VEGF bound to soluble receptor and more free plasma VEGF.