Vascular endothelial growth factor gene-460 C/T polymorphism is a biomarker for prostate cancer.
OBJECTIVE
To use the Bst U I polymorphism as a genetic marker in the search for the association between patients with prostate cancer and normal control subjects. The formation or progression of prostate cancer is presumed to be associated with a polymorphism of the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene. The most frequently seen polymorphism is Bst U I (C to T) located at the -460th nucleotide upstream of the VEGF gene.


METHODS
A normal control group of 119 healthy people and 96 patients with prostate cancer were examined. The polymorphism was seen after polymerase chain reaction-based restriction analysis.


RESULTS
The analysis revealed significant differences between normal individuals and patients with cancer (P <0.001). Also, the distribution of the "TT" homozygote in the patient group was greater than that in the control group. The odds ratio per copy of the "T" allele was 2.3 (95% confidence interval 1.4 to 3.8) and was 2.2 (95% CI 1.3 to 3.8) when adjusted for age. No statistically significant differences in clinical stage or grade were found. We also categorized the 54 patients who received hormonal therapy into response and nonresponse groups, but no statistically significant differences between these two groups were revealed (P = 0.110, Fisher's exact test).


CONCLUSIONS
The Bst U I polymorphism of the VEGF gene is a suitable genetic marker of prostate cancer but cannot be used in the prediction of the outcome of patients who have received hormonal therapy.
Lin
Cheng-Chieh
CC
Department of Family Medicine, China Medical College Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
Wu
Hsi-Chin
HC
Tsai
Fuu-Jen
FJ
Chen
Huey-Yi
HY
Chen
Wen-Chi
WC
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D003596:Cytosine; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics*; D011863:Radioimmunoassay; D013941:Thymine; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D005819:Genetic Markers; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D003596:Cytosine; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D013941:Thymine