Relationship of common vascular endothelial growth factor polymorphisms and haplotypes with the risk of cervical cancer in Tunisians

- We tested the association of between VEGF polymorphisms and cervical cancer.
- Higher frequencies of rs699947 and rs1570360 alleles were seen in CC cases.
- VEGF CTGCCAG haplotype was positively associated with CC.
- Specific VEGF variants and haplotype (CTGCCAG) contribute to the risk of CC.

ObjectiveWe investigated the association between common vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and the risk of cervical cancer (CC) in Tunisian patients and control women.MethodsStudy subjects comprised 86 CC cases and 124 control women. Genotyping of VEGF rs699947, rs833061, rs1570360, rs2010963, rs25648, rs833068, rs833070, rs3025039 SNPs was done by real-time PCR.ResultsHigher minor allele frequencies (MAF) of rs699947 (−2578C/A) [P = 0.04; OR (95% CI) = 1.52 (1.02-2.29)], and rs1570360 (−1154G/A) [P = 0.04; OR (95% CI) = 1.58 (1.01-2.47)] were seen in CC cases compared to control women. Marked differences in the distribution of rs699947 (P = 9 × 10−4) and rs1570360 (P = 0.03) genotypes were seen between CC cases and control groups; the distribution of the remaining SNPs was comparable between CC cases and control women. The association of rs699947 and rs1570360 with heightened CC risk with was seen in the heterozygous, and more so in the homozygous states. Haploview analysis revealed high LD between rs699947, rs833061, rs1570360, rs2010963, rs25648, rs833068 and rs833070 but weak or no LD between rs3025039 and the other SNPs. Seven-locus (rs699947/rs833061/rs1570360/rs2010963/rs25648/rs833068/ rs833070) haploview analysis identified only CTGCCAG haplotype to be positively associated with CC [P = 0.022; OR(95% CI) = 1.74 (1.08-2.79)].ConclusionSpecific VEGF variants (rs699947, rs1570360) and haplotype (CTGCCAG) may contribute to the development of CC among Tunisian women.