Prognostic impact of serum vascular endothelial growth factor and VEGF gene polymorphism (rs2010963) in breast cancer patients

Back ground: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) mediates breast carcinogenesis. Several studies shown that, VEGF is associated with increased breast cancer risk. However its prognostic significance and expression in different molecular subtypes remain unclear. The current study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic role of serum VEGF and VEGF rs2010963 polymorphism in Egyptian women with breast cancer. Aim: The current study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic role of serum VEGF and VEGF rs2010963 polymorphism in Egyptian women with breast cancer. Subjects and methods: This study was held in Menoufia University Hospital and included 275 participants, 150 women with invasive breast cancer and 125 women as healthy controls. Serum VEGF was assayed by ELISA technique and genotyping of VEGF rs2010963 polymorphism was analyzed by real time PCR. Results: The frequency of GG, CG genotypes and G allele were higher in breast cancer group when compared to the control group (p value = 0.001). In breast cancer patients there was significant relation between VEGF gene (C/G) polymorphism and patient age, tumor and nodal stage, molecular subtype and higher level of serum of CA15-3, CEA and VEGF for patients with GG genotype (P < 0.05). Multivariate Cox regression analysis of factors affecting survival showed that advanced tumor stage, presence of metastasis, serum level of VEGF and GG rs 2010963VEGF gene polymorphism were independent factors affecting patient survival (P < 0.05). Conclusion: rs2010963 VEGF gene polymorphism and serum VEGF could be considered as potential risk factors for breast cancer, Patients with breast cancer presenting the GG genotype have the highest serum VEGF levels, large tumor size, advanced tumor stage and shorter survival than CC carriers.