The association between SNPs in VEGF gene and OSCC risk

Objectives: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been considered to be a critical angiogenic cytokine involved in the supply of blood in several tumors. However, the association between polymorphisms in VEGF gene and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain controversial. Our aims were to investigate the risks of VEGF -460C>T polymorphisms to OSCC. Methods: A total of 324 OSCC patients were recruited from the department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital. A total of 331 healthy controls were recruited from a community health survey and a company health examination in the southern Taiwan. After participants signed the informed consent, 10ml of peripheral blood was collected for DNA isolation. A standardized questionnaire was applied to collect the information about substance usage and demographic data. The polymorphisms of VEGF -460C>T were determined by PCR-RFLP methods. The JMP 5.01 statistical software was used to analyze the association. Results: No statistically significant association was found between the VEGF polymorphisms and OSCC development, even to adjust with potential confounding factors. Stratification with the habits of three substances' usage (smoking, betel quid chewing, and drinking) or not, VEGF -460(CT+CC) genotypes were associated with OSCC development in smokers (OR adjusted = 2.11, 95% CI = 1.05 - 4.43) but no such association was found in the other groups. Further to stratify the participants with the VEGF -460C>T polymorphisms, the effects of these three substances' usage on the OSCC development were different. Conclusions: We suggested that no association was found between VEGF -460C>T polymorphisms and OSCC development. The association between three substances' usage and OSCC development can be affected by the VEGF -460C>T polymorphisms, especially in OSCC patients with smoking habit.