Variant alleles of VEGF and risk of esophageal cancer and lymph node metastasis. (May 2014) - Gu, Haiyong
Abstract Condensed abstract: The variant alleles of the functional polymorphisms, VEGF −2578 C > A, −1498 T > C and +936 C > T, were not associated with risk of esophageal cancer and lymph node metastasis. Compared with the most common haplotype, C−2578T−1498C+936, the A−2578C−1498C+936 haplotype was associated with a borderline significantly increased risk of esophageal cancer. C−2578C−1498C+936 and A−2578T−1498T+936 haplotypes were associated with significantly increased risk of esophageal cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent stimulator for angiogenesis. It has been implicated in the growth and metastasis of esophageal cancer. Three functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of VEGF (−2578 C > A, −1498 T > C and +936 C > T) are known to be related to VEGF expression. We conducted a case–control study to evaluate the effects of these three functional SNPs on the development of esophageal cancer and lymph node metastasis. A total of 497 cases and 380 controls were analyzed. Genotypes were determined by matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry and direct sequence methods. The variant alleles of the functional polymorphisms VEGF −2578 C > A, −1498 T > C and +936 C > T SNPs were not associated with esophageal cancer risk. These VEGF genotypes were not associated with the risk of esophageal cancer after stratification. Furthermore, no association was observed between VEGF −2578 C > A, −1498 T > C and +936 C > T polymorphisms and lymph node metastasis. Compared with the most common haplotype C−2578T−1498C+936, the A−2578C−1498C+936 haplotype was associated with a borderline significantly increased risk of esophageal cancer. C−2578C−1498C+936 and A−2578T−1498T+936 haplotypes were associated with significantly increased risk of esophageal cancer. Variants in the functional polymorphisms of VEGF may not contribute to esophageal cancer and lymph node metastasis susceptibility. VEGF A−2578C−1498C+936, C−2578C−1498C+936 and A−2578T−1498T+936 haplotypes may be associated with increased risk of esophageal cancer. However, our results were obtained with a limited sample size and therefore this is a preliminary conclusion. Validation by a larger study with more diverse ethnic populations is needed.