title: 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.
  
  
  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.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  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.
authors: Institute for Clinical Research, Bundang CHA General Hospital, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Seongnam, South Korea.
authors: Hye Mi
authors: HM
authors: Park
authors: Seung Ho
authors: SH
authors: Hong
authors: Jong Woo
authors: JW
authors: Kim
authors: Doyeun
authors: D
authors: Oh
authors: Seong Gyu
authors: SG
authors: Hwang
authors: Hee Jung
authors: HJ
authors: An
authors: Un-Kyung
authors: UK
authors: Kim
authors: Nam Keun
authors: NK
authors: Kim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012737:Sex Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A