Gender-specific Association of the VEGF -2578C>A Polymorphism in Korean Patients with Colon Cancer

Abstract

Background: Angiogenesis is involved in the development of cancer, promoting tumor growth, invasiveness and metastasis. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor. The present case control study was carried out, to determine whether there is an association between the VEGF -2578C>A polymorphism and colon cancer. Patients and Methods: DNA samples taken from 246 patients with colon cancer and 203 healthy controls were amplified by polymerase chain reaction for VEGF -2578C>A polymorphism. Results: Genotype frequencies of the VEGF -2578C>A polymorphism were not significantly different between patient and control groups. However, when the data were stratified by gender, the frequency of the -2578CA+AA (A allele-bearing) genotype was marginally significant different with protective effect for colon cancer in women (odds ratio, OR, 0.60; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.36-0.99; p=0.056). The -2578CA+AA genotype was also associated with reduced risk in patients with proximal colon cancer (OR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.31-0.97; p=0.049). This association also remained in women with proximal colon cancer. Conclusion: Although the VEGF -2578C>A polymorphism had no influence on susceptibility to colon cancer, some genotypes showed a significant difference between the case and control groups when the data were stratified by gender and the original location of tumor, suggesting that the VEGF -2578C>A polymorphism, at least in Koreans, is a genetic determinant of colon cancer risk.