A curated database of genetic markers from the angiogenesis/VEGF pathway and their relation to clinical outcome in human cancers

Introduction. Angiogenesis causes local growth, aggressiveness and metastasis in solid tumors, and thus, is almost always associated with poor prognosis and survival in cancer patients. Because of this clinical importance, several chemotherapeutic agents targeting angiogenesis have also been developed. Genes and genetic variations in angiogenesis/VEGF pathway thus may be correlated with clinical outcome in cancer patients. Material and methods. Here, we describe a manually curated public database, dbANGIO, which posts the results of studies testing the possible correlation of genetic variations (polymorphisms and mutations) from the angiogenesis/VEGF pathway with demographic features, clinicopathological features, treatment response and toxicity, and prognosis and survival-related endpoints in human cancers. The scientific findings are retrieved from PUBMED and posted in the dbANGIO website in a summarized form. Results and conclusion. As of September 2011, dbANGIO includes 362 entries from 83 research articles encompassing 154 unique genetic variations from 39 genes investigated in several solid and hematological cancers. By curating the literature findings and making them freely available to researchers, dbANGIO will expedite the research on genetic factors from the angiogenesis pathway and will assist in their utility in clinical management of cancer patients. dbANGIO is freely available for non-profit institutions at http://www.med.mun.ca/angio.