VEGF gene polymorphisms and outcome of epithelial ovarian cancer patients.

AIM: Since VEGF polymorphisms were associated with variable protein production, we analyzed herein their roles in outcome of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients.

METHODS: Genotypes of 85 patients with primary EOC were identified in DNA by real-time PCR. Progression-free survival and overall survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method, univariate Cox model and bootstrap resampling study.

RESULTS: At 60 months of follow-up, progression-free survival was shorter in patients with VEGF c.-2578 CC genotype compared with others (52.7 vs 82.2%; p = 0.04). Those patients had 2.15 more chance of presenting disease progression than others (p = 0.04); bootstrap study validated the result (p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that VEGF c.-2578C>A polymorphism acts as a prognostic factor in EOC.