Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Polymorphisms and Esophageal Cancer Prognosis

Purpose: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) promotes angiogenesis and vascular permeability. The VEGF gene is polymorphic. We investigated the prognostic significance of three VEGF single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in esophageal cancer. Experimental Design: Three hundred sixty-one patients were genotyped for three VEGF SNPs (-460T/C, 405G/C, and 936C/T) using DNA extracted from prospectively collected blood samples. The association of each individual SNP, and haplotypes of the three SNPs, on overall survival (OS) was investigated. Results: The variant allele of 936C/T was associated with improved OS compared with the wildtype genotype (log-rank P < 0.001). This association remained significant for OS after adjustments for age, gender, performance status, and disease stage [VEGF 936C/T: adjusted hazard ratio (AHR), 0.70; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.49-0.99; P = 0.04; VEGF 936T/T: AHR, 0.11; 95% Cl, 0.02-0.82; P = 0.03]. No independent associations were found for VEGF -460T/C and VEGF 405G/C. The CGC haplotype of the three VEGF SNPs (-460T/C, 405G/C, and 936C/T) combined was associated with reduced OS compared with all other patients (CGC/CGC: AHR, 1.51; 95% Cl, 1.00-2.30; P = 0.05). Conclusions: VEGF 936C/T, and a haplotype of 460T/C, 405G/C, and 936C/T combined, has potential prognostic significance in esophageal cancer.