VEGF 936C/T Polymorphism and Gestational Trophoblastic Neoplasia

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relationship between the 936C/T polymorphism of VEGF and the occurrence of gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN). STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective study that included 8 patients with complete hydatidiform mole (CHM) that evolved into spontaneous remission (SR), 12 patients with CHM that progressed to GTN, and 20 control (C) patients without obstetric complications. Polymorphisms were detected by polymerase chain reaction amplified technique of patients' DNA, and genotype frequencies were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The genotype frequencies of the VEGF 936C/T polymorphism were as follows: SR group, 100% CC genotype; GTN group, 50.0% CC, 41.7% CT, and 8.3% TT; C group, 30.0% CC, 65.0% CT, and 5.0% TT. Genotype frequencies did not differ significantly between the SR and GTN groups, although a trend was observed (p=0.06). Genotype frequencies did differ significantly between the combined group of all patients with CHM (SR+GTN) and the C group (p=0.03). CONCLUSION: This study did not identify a different VEGF 936C/T genotype profile for patients with CHM who undergo SR versus those who progress to GTN. However, the results do suggest that this polymorphism may affect susceptibility to CHM. Larger groups may improve the results of assessments of the predictive parameters of GTN.