Assessing the Impact of VEGF-2578C>A (rs699947) and-7C>T (rs2010963) Polymorphisms on Bladder Cancer Susceptibility: A Pilot Study

Background: One of the most common cancers is bladder cancer, characterized by a high mortality rate and a high incidence of recurrence. An identified susceptibility factor for bladder cancer is the presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) genes, specifically -2578C>A and -7C>T polymorphisms. Methods: This pilot study was conducted to uncover the association between the SNP VEGF -2578C>A and -7C>T in bladder cancer. A total of 20 patients were tested, consisting of both 10 controls and patients with bladder cancer, for the SNP of VEGF -2578C>A and -7C>T through polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: This study showed a significant association between the VEGF -2578C>A polymorphism (odds ratio (OR) 1.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03 - 2.01) and an increased risk of bladder cancer, especially in individuals with the A allele. However, the results for the -7C>T polymorphism in relation to bladder cancer risk showed a non-significant association in this study population. We did not detect a significant association between the VEGF -2578C>A (OR 0.93 (0.39 - 2.01)) and -7C>T (OR 0.74 (0.32 - 1.57)) polymorphisms and bladder cancer severity, as indicated by stages. Conclusion: This pilot study suggests that VEGF -2578C>A has a connection between polymorphism and bladder cancer susceptibility. Further large-scale studies need to be done to validate these findings and elucidate the underlying mechanisms linking VEGF polymorphisms to bladder cancer pathogenesis.