Research

Polymorphisms of TGFB1 and VEGF genes and survival of patients with gastric cancer

Xiaoxiang Guan¹ , Hui Zhao¹ , Jiangong Niu¹ , Dongfeng Tan² , Jaffer A Ajani³ and Qingyi Wei¹

¹  Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA

²  Department of Pathology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA

³  Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research 2009, 28:94doi:10.1186/1756-9966-28-94

Published:	30 June 2009

Abstract

Background

Some TGFB1 and VEGF polymorphisms are believed to be functional. Given that these genes are involved in tumor growth and progression including angiogenesis, dissemination, and invasiveness, we hypothesized that these polymorphisms would be associated with survival in patients with gastric cancer.

Methods

We genotyped TGFB1 -509 C>T, +1869 T>C, and +915 G>C and VEGF -1498T>C, -634G>C, and +936C>T in 167 patients with gastric cancer. Using the Kaplan and Meier method, log-rank tests, and Cox proportional hazard models, we evaluated associations among TGFB1 and VEGF variants with overall, 1-year, and 2-year survival rates.

Results

Although there were no significant differences in overall survival rates among all polymorphisms tested, patients with TGFB1+915CG and CC genotypes had a poorer 2-year survival (adjusted hazard ratio (HR), 3.06; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.09–8.62; P = 0.034) than patients with the GG genotype had. In addition, patients heterozygous for VEGF -634CG also had a poorer 1-year survival (adjusted HR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.03–4.22; P = 0.042) than patients with the -634GG genotype.

Conclusion

Our study suggested that TGFB1+915CG/CC and VEGF -634CG genotypes may be associated with short-term survival in gastric cancer patients. However, larger studies are needed to verify these findings.