VEGF polymorphism associated with lower breast cancer risk

A common polymorphism of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer, according to a report in the September 10th International Journal of Cancer.

“We were surprised about the big difference of percentage in patients and healthy controls [with this particular polymorphism],” Dr. Peter Krippl from Karl-Franzens University in Graz, Austria, told Reuters Health.Dr. Krippl and colleagues determined the 936 C/T status in the 3′ untranslated region of the VEGF gene in 500 women with breast cancer and 500 age-matched healthy women selected from the general population. Carriers of a 936 T allele (CT or TT genotype) were much more frequent among controls (29.4%) than among breast cancer patients (17.6%), the investigators report. The odds ratio for having breast cancer was 0.51 for women carrying a 936 T allele compared to those with the 936 CC genotype. The 936 C/T polymorphism of VEGF did not correlate with tumor size, histological grading, lymph node status, estrogen receptor status, progesterone receptor status, or age at diagnosis, the results indicate. Among 21 healthy, nonsmoking, postmenopausal women, VEGF plasma levels were significantly lower in 936 T allele carriers than in noncarriers, the researchers note, although “the mechanism by which the 936 C/T polymorphism affects VEGF levels is currently not known.””I think it would be of interest to know the interaction of this VEGF polymorphism to anti-angiogenic-therapies, such as the VEGF-receptor-antagonist,” Dr. Krippl said. “Maybe we can get better response rates, for example, if we know the genotype before treating.” The investigator added that in the future, perhaps “it will be possible to calculate cancer risk better because of knowing more single nucleotide polymorphisms and their interaction.”(Source: Int J Cancer 2003;106:468-471: Reuters Health: Will Boggs, MD: September 5, 2003: Oncolink)