Major abdominal surgery increases plasma levels of vascular endothelial growth factor: open more so than minimally invasive methods.

Introduction: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent inducer of angiogenesis that is necessary for wound healing and also promotes tumor growth. It is anticipated that plasma levels would increase after major surgery and that such elevations may facilitate tumor growth. This study's purpose was to determine plasma VEGF levels before and early after major open and minimally invasive abdominal surgery.

Rapid increase in serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) postoperatively is associated with a decrease in the amount of intracellular MMP-9.

We have previously demonstrated a significant decrease in the serum concentration of intact insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP-3) after laparotomy. IGFBP-3, a major IGF binding protein, inhibits the growth of tumor cells via several mechanisms. Our goal was to determine, in a murine model, whether matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), a known protease of IGFBP-3, is responsible for the postoperative decrease in serum IGFBP-3 levels.

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 in inflammatory bowel disease.

Epithelial cell growth regulation has been reported to be altered in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients. The cell growth regulatory factor, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3), may be partly responsible for this phenomenon. So far, IGFBP-3 levels have been assessed as values of total protein, which is a sum of bioactive intact 43- to 45-kDa protein and its inactive proteolytic cleavage fragments.