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.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study suggests that the VEGF 936C>T polymorphism might be a genetic determinant for colon cancer, at least in Koreans.
Bae
Su Jin
SJ
Institute for Clinical Research, College of Medicine, Pochon CHA University, Seongnam, South Korea.
Kim
Jong Woo
JW
Kang
Haeyoun
H
Hwang
Seong Gyu
SG
Oh
Doyeun
D
Kim
Nam Keun
NK
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003110:Colonic Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012737:Sex Factors; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D005492:Folic Acid