Gender-specific association between polymorphism of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF 936 C>T) gene and colon cancer in Korea.

BACKGROUND

Angiogenesis is an essential process in the development, growth and metastasis of malignant tumors such as colon cancer. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor. A case control study was carried out to determine whether there is an association between the VEGF 936C>T polymorphism and colon cancer.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

DNA samples taken from 262 colon cancer patients and 229 healthy controls were amplified by polymerase chain reaction for the VEGF 936C>T polymorphism.

RESULTS

Genotype frequencies of the VEGF 936C>T polymorphism were significantly different between patient and control groups (CT+TT, odds ratio(OR): 1.524, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.033-2.249). When stratified by gender and age, the frequencies of the T allele-bearing genotypes significantly increased risk for colon cancer in women and patients younger than 55 years (in women, OR: 1.996, 95% CI: 1.151-3.464 and in <55 years, OR: 4.156, 95% CI: 1.885-9.163). In addition, this association remained in most cases with distal and proximal colon cancer.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that the VEGF 936C>T polymorphism might be a genetic determinant for colon cancer, at least in Koreans.