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Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms in thyroid cancer
Pi-Jung Hsiao1, Ming-Ying Lu, Feng-Yu Chiang
1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC.
The Journal of Endocrinology
|October 24, 2007
Summary
The A allele of the VEGF -2578C/A gene variant (rs699947) is linked to increased thyroid cancer risk and lymph node metastasis, particularly in men. This finding highlights a specific genetic risk factor for thyroid cancer development.
Area of Science:
- Genetics
- Oncology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) drives angiogenesis and is implicated in thyroid cancer growth and metastasis.
- Specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the VEGF gene, including -2578C/A, -634G/C, and +936C/T, correlate with VEGF expression levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between three functional VEGF gene SNPs and the risk of developing thyroid cancer.
- To determine the impact of these SNPs on lymph node metastasis in thyroid cancer patients.
- To evaluate potential sex-specific genetic effects on thyroid cancer development and metastasis.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 332 thyroid cancer cases and 261 controls.
- Genotyping of VEGF SNPs (-2578C/A, -634G/C, +936C/T) using the TaqMan 5'-nuclease assay.
- Statistical analysis including Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium testing, chi(2)-test, logistic regression, and Bonferroni correction for multiple testing.
Main Results:
- The A allele of the VEGF -2578C/A SNP (rs699947) was associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer (adjusted OR=1.36, P=0.039).
- A trend of increasing risk allele frequency was observed from controls to patients with lymph node metastasis (P(trend)=0.019).
- This genetic risk was significant in men (adjusted OR=1.97, P=0.013) but not in women (adjusted OR=1.15, P=0.435). The other two SNPs showed no significant association.
Conclusions:
- The A allele of VEGF SNP rs699947 is a risk factor for thyroid cancer development and lymph node metastasis.
- The association between VEGF -2578C/A and thyroid cancer risk is more pronounced in men.
- These findings suggest a specific genetic susceptibility related to VEGF in thyroid cancer, with a notable gender difference.
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