Association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms in growth factor genes and quality of life in men with prostate cancer and the general population.
OBJECTIVE
Improved survival for men with prostate cancer has led to increased attention to factors influencing quality of life (QOL). As protein levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) have been reported to be associated with QOL in people with cancer, we sought to identify whether single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of these genes were associated with QOL in men with prostate cancer.


METHODS
Multiple linear regression of two data sets (including approximately 750 men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer and 550 men from the general population) was used to investigate SNPs of VEGF and IGF-1 (10 SNPs in total) for associations with QOL (measured by the SF-36v2 health survey).


RESULTS
Men with prostate cancer who carried the minor 'T' allele for IGF-1 SNP rs35767 had higher mean Role-Physical scale scores (≥0.3 SD) compared to non-carriers (p < 0.05). While this association was not identified in men from the general population, one IGF-1 SNP rs7965399 was associated with higher mean Bodily Pain scale scores in men from the general population that was not found in men with prostate cancer. Men from the general population who carried the rare 'C' allele had higher mean Bodily Pain scale scores (≥0.3 SD) than non-carriers (p < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Through identifying SNPs that are associated with QOL in men with prostate cancer and men from the general population, this study adds to the mapping of complex interrelationships that influence QOL and suggests a role for IGF-I in physical QOL outcomes. Future research may identify biomarkers associated with increased risk of poor QOL that could assist in the provision of pre-emptive support for those identified at risk.
Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI), School of Nursing, Queensland University of Technology (QUT), Kelvin Grove, Brisbane, QLD, 4059, Australia, k.alexander@qut.edu.au.
Kimberly E
KE
Alexander
Suzanne
S
Chambers
Amanda B
AB
Spurdle
Jyotsna
J
Batra
Felicity
F
Lose
Tracy A
TA
O'Mara
Robert A
RA
Gardiner
Joanne F
JF
Aitken
Judith A
JA
Clements
Mary-Anne
MA
Kedda
Monika
M
Janda
D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000235:genetics*
D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I