Vascular endothelial growth factor -634G/C and vascular endothelial growth factor -2578C/A polymorphisms and lung cancer risk: a case-control study and meta-analysis

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a major regulator of angiogenesis in the process of tumor growth and metastasis. In present study, we conducted a case–control study and meta-analysis to evaluate the genetic effects of VEGF -634G/C and VEGF -2578C/A polymorphisms and risk of lung cancer. A total of 175 subjects were recruited for case–control study and seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. Our case–control study showed that VEGF -634G/C polymorphism had no association with lung cancer risk (CC vs. GG: OR = 0.88, 95 % CI = 0.37–2.11), whereas there was an association between VEGF -2578CC genotype and decrease in lung cancer risk (CC vs. CA/AA: OR = 0.52, 95 % CI = 0.28–0.96). A meta-analysis was further performed and statistically similar results were obtained (CC vs. GG: OR = 0.91, 95 % CI = 0.60–1.39 for VEGF −634; CC vs. AA: OR = 0.53, 95 % CI = 0.32–0.89 for VEGF −2578). Our study showed that the variant genotypes of the VEGF -2578C/A polymorphism, but not the VEGF -634G/C polymorphism, was associated with lung cancer risk. More studies are needed to detect VEGF -634G/C and VEGF −2578 polymorphisms and their association with lung cancer in different ethnic populations incorporated with environmental exposures.