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Updated: May 15, 2026
Immunoglobulin Gene Sequence Analysis In Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: From Patient Material To Sequence Interpretation
Published on: November 26, 2018
VEGF and bFGF gene polymorphisms in Polish patients with B-CLL
Tomasz Wróbel1, Grzegorz Mazur, Justyna Dzietczenia
1Department of Haematology, Blood Neoplasms and Bone Marrow Transplantation, Wroclaw Medical University, Wybrzeze L. Pasteura 4, 50-367 Wroclaw, Poland.
Insights
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) gene variations may be linked to high-risk chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) development. Basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) gene polymorphisms showed no significant association with B-CLL susceptibility or progression.
Area of Science:
- * Oncology
- * Genetics
- * Molecular Biology
Background:
- * Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) and basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) are key angiogenic factors implicated in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL).
- * Elevated levels of VEGF and bFGF are recognized as prognostic markers for B-CLL progression.
- * Genetic variations within these angiogenic factor genes may influence disease development and advancement.
Purpose of the Study:
- * To investigate the association between polymorphisms in VEGF and bFGF genes and the susceptibility to B-CLL.
- * To determine if these polymorphisms correlate with the progression of B-CLL in patients.
Main Methods:
- * A case-control study involving 180 participants (68 B-CLL patients, 112 healthy controls).
- * Genotyping for VEGF (936 C > T) and bFGF (-921 C > G) alleles using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).
- * Statistical analysis to compare allele and genotype frequencies between patient and control groups, and across different disease stages.
Main Results:
- * A trend towards higher prevalence of the VEGF T variant was observed in B-CLL patients compared to controls (p = 0.095).
- * A significant association was found between the VEGF T variant and high-risk B-CLL (stages III/IV) (OR = 3.81, p = 0.045).
- * No significant associations were found for bFGF polymorphisms with B-CLL susceptibility or progression, nor for other VEGF associations with disease stage.
Conclusions:
- * The VEGF (936 C > T) polymorphism may be associated with an increased risk of developing high-risk B-CLL.
- * The bFGF (-921 C > G) polymorphism does not appear to be a significant factor in B-CLL susceptibility or progression.
- * Further research is warranted to elucidate the role of VEGF gene variations in B-CLL pathogenesis.
Abstract:
Among a variety of angiogenic factors involved in the B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) were identified. Their levels have been regarded as prognostic markers of the progression of disease. The objective of the present study was to assess whether polymorphisms located within the genes coding for these key angiogenic activators contribute to disease susceptibility and/or progression in patients with B-CLL. For this purpose, 180 individuals were investigated, including 68 B-CLL patients and 112 healthy controls. All individuals were typed for the VEGF (936 C > T) and bFGF (-921 C > G) alleles using PCR-RFLP technique. Only a slight prevalence of the VEGF T variant was observed among patients as compared to healthy individuals (p = 0.095) with a significant difference when high risk (stage III/IV) patients were considered (OR = 3.81, p = 0.045). No other significant association was observed between the VEGF polymorphism and progression of the disease. The VEGF alleles and genotypes segregated similarly in patients with different stage of the disease according to Rai classification. No significant relationships were also observed for the bFGF polymorphism with either susceptibility to B-CLL (when compared to control group) or progression of the disease. These results suggest the possible association of the VEGF polymorphism with high risk B-CLL.
