Serum VEGFR-3 and survival of advanced gastric cancer patients treated with FOLFOX

Table 1 Clinical characteristics associated with overall survival of the patients

Characteristics	n (%)	MST (mo) (95% CI)	P Log-rank test
Age (yr) (median: 59, range: 28-73)
< 59	37 (45.7)	13.900 (8.075-19.725)	0.610
≥ 59	44 (54.3)	12.600 (6.595-18.605)
Gender
Male	55 (67.9)	12.600 (7.674-17.526)	0.384
Female	26 (32.1)	15.300 (6.017-24.583)
ECOG
0-1	64 (79.0)	14.300 (9.194-19.406)	0.034
2	17 (21.0)	9.800 (5.307-14.293)
Lymph node
Negative	13 (16.0)	35.100 (5.695-64.505)	0.004
Positive	68 (84.0)	9.900 (7.480-12.320)
Initial staging
III	38 (46.9)	17.800 (14.187-21.413)	0.017
IV	43 (53.1)	8.600 (6.157-11.043)
Grading
G2	23 (28.4)	14.500 (2.761-26.239)	0.584
G3	58 (71.6)	12.600 (7.823-17.377)
Site of tumor
Proximal stomach	30 (37.0)	10.300 (5.283-15.317)	0.806
Distal stomach	44 (54.3)	15.400 (9.380-21.420)
Whole stomach	7 (8.6)	10.800 (4.439-17.161)

MST: Median survival time; ECOG: Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group.

Table 2 Serum VEGFR-3 and CEA levels and survival in advanced gastric cancer patients

Factors	n	MST (mo) (95% CI)	P1
VEGFR-3 (ng/mL)
Low ≤ 70.6	52	15.400 (11.799-19.001)	< 0.001
High > 70.6	29	7.700 (5.691-9.709)
CEA (ng/mL)
Low ≤ 23.5	57	15.800 (11.223-20.377)	< 0.001
High > 23.5	24	8.600 (7.219-9.981)

¹Adjusted P-value based on log-rank statistics after 1000 bootstrap simulations. VEGFR-3: Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3; CEA: Carcinoembryonic antigen; CI: Confidence interval.

Table 3 Multivariate analysis of factors associated with overall survival

Factors	n	Hazard ratio (95% CI)	P
ECOG PS
0-1	64	1 (ref.)
2	17	2.396 (1.219-4.708)	0.011
Lymph node
Negative	13	1 (ref.)
Positive	68	1.846 (0.871-3.912)	0.110
Initial staging
III	38	1 (ref.)
IV	43	1.844 (1.109-3.066)	0.018
VEGFR3
Low ≤ 70.6	52	1 (ref.)
High > 70.6	29	2.443 (1.374-4.345)	0.002

PS: Performance status.