VEGF hypersecretion as a plausible mechanism for pseudo-meigs' syndrome in advanced colorectal cancer

Abstract

We present a case of pseudo-meigs' syndrome caused by a metastatic ovarian tumor of rectal cancer origin, and examine the possible involvement of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the pathogenesis of refractory fluid retention. A 42-year-old woman with advanced rectal cancer underwent a laparoscopic anterior resection of the rectum. During systemic chemotherapy treatment, she complained of severe abdominal distension 16 months following the operation. We failed to improve massive ascites by diuretics and repeated abdominocenteses. Without any definite evidence of carcinomatous peritonitis, we chose to extirpate an enlarged ovarian tumor on the presumptive diagnosis of pseudo-meigs' syndrome. Ascites disappeared promptly after resecting the ovarian tumors and the subject resumed systemic chemotherapy. Preoperative high levels of serum VEGF were normalized promptly after the operation. Levels of VEGF expression in metastatic ovarian tumors were as weak as in the primary tumor upon immunohistochemical staining. In contrast, increased VEGF expression was evident in epithelial cells of oviducts. For patients with massive and refractory ascites, we need to keep in mind the disease entity of pseudo-meigs' syndrome, since surgical intervention possibly improves conditions. Furthermore, the hypersecretion of VEGF from oviducts may play a role in the pathogenesis of clinical manifestations of pseudo-meigs' syndrome.