VEGF −460C>T polymorphism and cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major driver of physiological and pathological angiogenesis and plays important roles in the etiology and metastasis of cancers. The −460C>T polymorphism in VEGF gene region has been implicated in cancer risk and related to VEGF expression. However, published data remain conflicting. To derive a more precise estimation, a meta-analysis of 5,863 cases and 5,276 controls from 14 published case–control studies was performed. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to assess the association. VEGF −460T represented a risk factor for cancers in Asians (OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.09–2.62) but not in Europeans (OR = 0.92, 95% CI: 0.78–1.08). Our meta-analysis showed the evidence that VEGF −460T was associated with increased cancer risk in Asians. Further prospective researches with larger numbers of worldwide participants are expected to validate this result.