The role of pericytes on the efficacy of bevacizumab in colorectal cancer

Pericytes are mesenchymal cells surrounding capillary vessels and are known to play an essential role in tumor angiogenesis. Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan 4 (CSPG4) is a cell surface proteoglycan and its release from pericytes and vascular smooth muscle cells is very important in tumor angiogenesis. Bevacizumab, which is a monoclonal antibody frequently used in the treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer, binds to the ligand of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and inhibits tumor angiogenesis. However, no reliable biomarker for predicting patients that will show a good response to this therapy has been established yet. In this study, we aimed to identify the significance of the presence of pericyte and VEGFA and CSPG4 expressions on the efficacy of Bevacizumab.

Our results suggested that bevacizumab may be more effective in patients having less vascular density in the tumor tissue. But further studies are needed to support this finding.

Fifty patients with metastatic or recurrent colorectal cancer who had been treated with Bevacizumab combined chemotherapy treatment were included in the study. The expressions of VEGFA and CSPG4 genes and also human β-actin as the reference gene were examined using the quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction method in the formalin-fixed paraffinembedded tumor tissues. For determining vascular and pericyte density in tumor tissue, immunohistochemical analysis was performed with CD31, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and CD34 antibodies.

CSPG4 positive group had better objective response rate, as well as longer progression-free and overall survival than CSPG4 negative ones. Progression-free survival was significantly longer in VEGFA low group and CD31 low group. No significant correlation was found between CD34 positivity, SMA positivity, and progression-free and overall survival.