title: Prognostic impact of VEGFA germline polymorphisms in patients with HER2-positive primary breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is essential in tumour angiogenesis, and polymorphisms in the VEGFA gene have been associated with breast cancer prognosis. The human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) is overexpressed in breast tumours and is also associated with angiogenesis. We investigated the possible prognostic impact of VEGFA single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in patients with HER2-positive primary breast cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  DNA was isolated from venous blood samples from 116 HER2-positive patients and genotyped for VEGFA -2578C>A, -1498T>C, -1154G>A, -634G>C, -7C>T and +936C>T SNPs using the TaqMan® SNP Genotyping Assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The -2578C>A and -634G>C genotypes were associated with tumour size, p ≤ 0.014. In univariate analysis -2578CC, -634CC and -7CC genotypes were associated with inferior recurrence-free survival (p ≤ 0.028) but in cox multivariate analysis, only the -634CC genotype remained an independent prognostic factor (p=0.008).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The VEGFA -634CC genotype was found to be associated with an inferior prognosis for patients with HER2-positive breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Vejle Hospital, Vejle, Denmark. else.maae@slb.regionsyddanmark.dk
authors.forename: Else
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Maae
authors.forename: Rikke Fredslund
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Andersen
authors.forename: Karina Dahl
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Steffensen
authors.forename: Erik Hugger
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Brandslund
authors.forename: Flemming Brandt
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Sørensen
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018095:Germ-Line Mutation; D006801:Humans; D017404:In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011379:Prognosis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D043823:Taxoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D000077143:Docetaxel; D015251:Epirubicin; D005472:Fluorouracil; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D043823:Taxoids; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; C467484:VEGFA protein, human