Integrin alpha(v)beta(3) expression in colon carcinoma correlates with survival.

Integrin alpha(v)beta(3) is expressed by newly formed blood vessels in diseased and neoplastic tissue and can therefore be used as a marker for angiogenesis. We investigated its expression on the vasculature of 40 colon carcinomas using the anti-alpha(v)beta(3)-specific monoclonal antibody LM609. The average relapse-free interval and overall survival in patients suffering from colon carcinomas with high vascular expression of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin was significantly reduced compared with that in patients with low alpha(v)beta(3) integrin expressing tumor vasculature. Moreover, the expression level of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin correlated with the presence of liver metastases. In conclusion, we propose vascular expression of alpha(v)beta(3) integrin as a prognostic indicator for colon carcinoma.