Vascular endothelial growth factor gene polymorphisms and risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia

To evaluate the association between 3 vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) gene polymorphisms and susceptibility of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).

This prospectively collected case-control study investigates three common VEGF gene polymorphisms (ie, VEGF -460 [rs833061], VEGF +405 [rs2010963], and VEGF +936 [rs3025039]) in 203 women with CIN and 209 healthy women by DNA pyrosequencing. Associations between polymorphisms and CIN risk are evaluated with univariate and multivariable models and haplotype analysis.

In a multivariable regression model, the variant VEGF +405C allele was associated (odds ratio [OR], 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.2-5.1], P = 0.02) with increased susceptibility of CIN independent of number of sexual partners (OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 1.1-4.6; P = 0.03) and smoking (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.6-6.6; P = 0.001). The haplotype VEGF -460C - +405C - +936C was associated with an OR of 5.2 (95% CI, 1.2-52.7) for the susceptibility of CIN.

The presence of the variant VEGF +405C allele and the haplotype VEGF -460C - +405C - +936C are independently associated with higher susceptibility of CIN.