Association of vascular endothelial growth factor--a gene polymorphisms and haplotypes with breast cancer metastases

VEGF/VEGFR axis and its signaling in melanoma: Current knowledge toward therapeutic targeting agents and future perspectives

Melanoma is responsible for most skin cancer-associated deaths globally. The progression of melanoma is influenced by a number of pathogenic processes. Understanding the VEGF/VEGFR axis, which includes VEGF-A, PlGF, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D and their receptors, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2, and VEGFR-3, is of great importance in melanoma due to its crucial role in angiogenesis. This axis generates multifactorial and complex cellular signaling, engaging the MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, PKC, PLC-γ, and FAK signaling pathways. Melanoma cell growth and proliferation, migration and metastasis, survival, and acquired resistance to therapy are influenced by this axis. The VEGF/VEGFR axis was extensively examined for their potential as diagnostic/prognostic biomarkers in melanoma patients and results showed that VEGF overexpression can be associated with unfavorable prognosis, higher level of tumor invasion and poor response to therapy. MicroRNAs linking to the VEGF/VEGFR axis were identified and, in this review, divided into two categories according to their functions, some of them promote melanoma angiogenesis (promotive group) and some restrict melanoma angiogenesis (protective group). In addition, the approach of treating melanoma by targeting the VEGF/VEGFR axis has garnered significant interest among researchers. These agents can be divided into two main groups: anti-VEGF and VEGFR inhibitors. These therapeutic options may be a prominent step along with the modern targeting and immune therapies for better coverage of pathological processes leading to melanoma progression and therapy resistance.

Fyn and Lyn gene polymorphisms impact the risk of thyroid cancer

Thyroid cancer is the most common malignancy of the endocrine glands, and during last couple of decades, its incidence has risen alarmingly, across the globe. Etiology of thyroid cancer is still debatable. There are a few worth mentioning risk factors which contribute to initiation of abnormalities in thyroid gland leading to cancer. Genetic instability is major risk factors in thyroid carcinogenesis. Among the genetic factors, the Src family of genes (Src, Yes1, Fyn and Lyn) have been implicated in many cancers but there is little data regarding the association of these (Src, Yes1, Fyn and Lyn) genes with thyroid carcinogenesis. Fyn and Lyn genes of Src family found engaged in proliferation, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis in different cancers. This study was planned to examine the effect of Fyn and Lyn SNPs on thyroid cancer risk in Pakistani population in 500 patients and 500 controls. Three polymorphisms of Fyn gene (rs6916861, rs2182644 and rs12910) and three polymorphisms of Lyn gene (rs2668011, rs45587541 and rs45489500) were analyzed using Tetra-primer ARMS-PCR followed by DNA sequencing. SNP rs6916861 of Fyn gene mutant genotype (CC) showed statistically significant threefold increased risk of thyroid cancer (P < 0.0001). In case of rs2182644 of Fyn gene, mutant genotype (AA) indicated statistically significant 17-fold increased risk of thyroid cancer (P < 0.0001). Statistically significant threefold increased risk of thyroid cancer was observed in genotype AC (P < 0.0001) of Fyn gene polymorphism rs12910. In SNP rs2668011 of Lyn gene, TT genotype showed statistically significant threefold increased risk of thyroid cancer (P < 0.0001). In case of rs45587541 of Lyn gene, GA genotypes showed statistically significant 11-fold increased risk in thyroid cancer (P < 0.0001). Haplotype analysis revealed that AAATAG*, AGACAG*, AGCCAA*, AGCCAG*, CAATAG*, CGCCAG* and CGCCGA* haplotypes of Fyn and Lyn polymorphisms are associated with increased thyroid cancer risk. These results showed that genotypes and allele distribution of Fyn and Lyn are significantly linked with increased thyroid cancer risk and could be genetic adjuster for said disease.

Lung Cancer with Brain Metastases Treated with Radiotherapy Followed by Bevacizumab Maintenance: A Case Report

Brain metastases in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer carry a grave prognosis. Without effective interventions, the average survival rate is 6 months. Here, we present a case of a 59-year-old male with non-small cell lung cancer and multiple brain metastases treated with radiotherapy followed by bevacizumab maintenance with prolonged survival. There are limited studies establishing the efficiency and toxicity profile of anti-vascular endothelial growth factors for brain metastases. This reported case had a remarkable response with marked clinical and radiological improvement along with a tolerable toxicity profile. Showing the extent of effectiveness and efficacy of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents in the case of lung cancer with brain metastases is the main motto of our study.

Keywords

bevacizumab; brain metastases; radiotherapy.

Association of VEGF haplotypes with breast cancer risk in North-West Indians

BACKGROUND

Angiogenesis is a complex and coordinated process regulated by different growth factors and is one of the hallmark features of cancer. VEGF is one of the most important endothelial cell mitogen and has a critical role in normal physiological and tumor angiogenesis. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential association of haplotypes of six VEGF polymorphisms with breast cancer risk in North-West Indians.

METHODS

Samples of 250 breast cancer patients and 250 age and sex matched controls were genotyped for VEGF -2578C/A, -2549I/D, -460T/C, +405C/G, -7C/T and +936C/T polymorphisms. Haplotypes were generated to determine the better contribution of VEGF polymorphisms to breast cancer risk.

RESULTS

Haplotypes CDTCCC (OR = 0.56, 95%CI, 0.38-0.81; p = 0.003) and CDTGCC (OR = 0.63, 95%CI, 0.44-0.92; p = 0.018) of VEGF -2578C/A, -2549I/D, -460T/C, +405C/G, -7C/T and +936C/T polymorphisms were significantly associated with decreased risk of breast cancer. CDTCCC haplotype was also significantly associated with reduced risk of breast cancer in pre and post menopausal as well as both obese and non obese patients. Haplotype CDTGCC was marginally associated (p = 0.07) with reduced risk of breast cancer in non-obese patients as compared with non-obese controls where as haplotype AICGTC was marginally associated (p = 0.09) with reduced risk of breast cancer in obese patients when compared with non-obese patients. The CDTGCC haplotype was significantly associated with increased risk of breast cancer in premenopausal obese patients (OR = 1.98, 95%CI, 1.10-3.56; p = 0.02).

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicated that CDTCCC and CDTGCC haplotypes of VEGF -2578C/A, -2549I/D, -460T/C, +405C/G, -7C/T and +936C/T polymorphisms were significantly associated with breast cancer risk in North-West Indians. Further studies on multiethnic groups with larger sample size are required to confirm our results.

Association of angiogenesis and inflammation-related gene functional polymorphisms with early-stage breast cancer prognosis

Genetic variations in inflammation- and angiogenesis-related genes may alter the coded protein level and impact the pathogenesis of breast cancer (BC). The present study investigated the association of functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the VEGFA, IL-1β, IL-1α and IL-6 genes with the early-stage BC phenotype and survival. Genomic DNA and clinical data were collected for 202 adult Eastern European (Lithuanian) women with primary I-II stage BC. Genotyping of the SNPs was performed using TaqMan SNP genotyping assays. Nine VEGFA, IL-1β, IL-1α and IL-6 polymorphisms were analysed. The VEGFA and IL-6 haplotypes were inferred using Phase software. Patients were prospectively followed-up for recurrence, occurrence of metastasis and mortality until April 30, 2019. All studied genotypes were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and had the same distribution as the 1,000 Genomes project Phase 3 dataset for European population. Significant associations of the studied SNPs with clinicopathologic variables were observed between IL-1α rs1800587 C allele and larger primary tumour size; IL-6 rs1800797 A allele, rs1800797 GA genotype, rs1800795 C allele, IL-6 (rs1800797-re1800795) AC diplotype and hormonal receptor-positive disease; IL-6 rs1800797 A allele and HER2 negative status. In univariate Cox survival analysis, IL-1α rs1800587 CC and IL-6 rs1800797 GG genotype carriers exhibited worse disease-free survival (DFS), metastasis-free survival (MFS) and overall survival (OS). The IL-6 rs1800795 GG genotype was associated with worse OS. IL-6 (rs1800797, rs1800795) GG/GG diplotype carriers had shorter MFS and OS. Multivariate Cox survival analysis revealed that the IL-1α rs1800587 CC genotype was an independent negative prognostic factor for DFS, MFS and OS, and the IL6 GG/GG diplotype was an independent negative prognostic factor for MFS and OS. According to the present study, functional SNPs in the IL-1α and IL-6 genes may contribute to the identification of patients at higher risk of BC recurrence, development of metastases and worse OS among early-stage patients with BC.

Risk of Necrotizing Enterocolitis Associated With the Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms VEGF C-2578A, IL-18 C-607A, and IL-4 Receptor α-Chain A-1902G: A Validation Study in a Prospective Multicenter Cohort

The etiology of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is multifactorial and an underlying genetic predisposition to NEC is increasingly being recognized. A growing number of studies identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of selected genes with potential biological relevance in the development of NEC. However, few of these genetic studies have been replicated in validation cohorts. We aimed to confirm in a cohort of 358 preterm newborns (gestational age <30 weeks, 26 cases of NEC ≥ Bell stage II) the association with NEC of three candidate SNPs: the vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) C-2578A polymorphism (rs699947), the interleukin (IL)-18 C-607A polymorphism (rs1946518), and the IL-4 receptor α-chain (IL-4Rα) A-1902G polymorphism (rs1801275). We observed that allele and genotype frequencies of the three SNPs did not significantly differ between the infants with and without NEC. In contrast, the minor G-allele of the IL-4Rα A-1902G polymorphism was significantly less frequent in the group of 51 infants with the combined outcome NEC or death before 34 weeks postmenstrual age than in the infants without the outcome (0.206 vs. 0.331, P = 0.01). In addition, a significant negative association of the G-allele with the combined outcome NEC or death was found using the dominant (adjusted odds ratio, aOR: 0.44, 95% CI 0.21-0.92), recessive (aOR 0.15, 95% CI 0.03-0.74), and additive (aOR 0.46, 95% CI 0.26-0.80) genetic models. In conclusion our study provides further evidence that a genetic variant of the IL-4Rα gene may contribute to NEC.

Association of vascular endothelial growth factor expression and polymorphisms with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVE

To study the associations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and its gene polymorphisms with the risk of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS

A total of 239 GDM patients (GDM group) and 275 healthy pregnant women (Control group) were included in this study. VEGF genotypes (including rs2146323, rs2010963, rs3025039, rs3025010, and rs833069) were analyzed by TaqMan assay. ELISA was used to determine the serum VEGF levels. The software SHEsis was performed to analyze haplotypes.

RESULTS

The carrier with the rs2146323 AA, CA+AA genotypes, and A allele, as well as the rs3025039 CT, TT, CT+TT genotypes, and T allele showed the increased risk of GDM (all P < 0.05), but the distributions of genotype and allele at rs2010963, rs3025010, and rs833069 were not significantly different between GDM patients and controls (all P > 0.05). Notably, the frequency of rs2010963-rs833069-rs2146323-rs3025010 haplotypes CAAC, CAAT, CACC, CACT, GACT, and GGCT was found statistically different between GDM patients and controls (all P < 0.05). The patients with rs3025039 CT+TT genotype had higher VEGF levels than those with CC genotype (all P < 0.05). Besides, age, family histories of diabetes, previous GDM, hypertension, pre-pregnancy body mass index, fasting plasma glucose, fasting insulin, homeostasis model assessment (HOMA)-IR, rs2146323 CA+AA, rs3025039 CT+TT, and VEGF expression level were independent risk factors, while HOMA-β was an independent protective factor for GDM (all P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

VEGF rs2146323 and rs3025039 polymorphisms and its expression were significantly correlated with the risk of GDM, providing a great clinical value for GDM assessment and diagnosis.

Irradiated VEGF164-modified tumor cell vaccine protected mice from the parental tumor challenge

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is an important regulating molecule of angiogenesis in tumor formation and progression. Cancer cells always secrete VEGF to stimulate angiogenesis that facilitate growth and invasion of the tumor. In this study, we established a VEGF164 overexpressing LL/2 lung cancer cell model and found that the postirradiated VEGF164-modified tumor cells protected the host against the challenge with LL/2 wild-type tumor cells. Histochemical assay showed that there were large areas of tumor necrosis with macrophage infiltration in the mice vaccinated with the VEGF164-modified tumor vaccine. T-cells isolated from the vaccinated mice showed cytotoxicity against the parental tumor cells in a dose-dependent manner. Meanwhile, sera from the mice vaccinated with LL/2-VEGF164 showed higher titers of antibodies against parental tumor cells compared with the nonvaccinated groups. Our results indicated that VEGF164-modified tumor vaccine could modulate host antitumor immune response and hold therapeutic potential for cancer.

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) Gene Promoter Polymorphisms and Disease Progression in North Indian Cohort with Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney Disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by a significant phenotypic variability in progression of the disease. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been reported to play a major role in renal pathophysiology. The aim of the present case-control study was to evaluate the association of two promoter polymorphisms (-2578C>A and-1154G>A) of VEGF gene and ADPKD. Genotyping was carried out in 123 ADPKD patients and 100 healthy controls, using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique (PCR-RFLP). The genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies of these two polymorphisms in ADPKD patients were compared with those in controls, as well as in patients with early and advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) stages, using Chi-square (χ2) test. The distribution frequency of CC, CA and AA genotypes of -2578C>A polymorphism differed significantly between patients and controls (0.31, 0.63 and 0.06 vs 0.37, 0.44 and 0.19, respectively (P=0.003)), but no significantly different genotype distribution was observed for the-1154G>A polymorphism. The A allele of -2578C>A and G allele of -1154G>A, were significantly more present in the controls as compared to the patients, and may provide protection for CKD under recessive (OR, 3.73; 95% CI, 1.45-9.62; P=0.0042), and dominant (OR, 0.55; 95%CI, 0.31-0.98; P=0.041) models. The [A;G] haplotype was more frequently present in controls (18%) than in cases (8%), (OR 0.398; 95% CI 0.22-0.71; P=0.002). These results suggest that the two promoter polymorphisms of VEGF may modify the disease risk in ADPKD patients from North India.

Association between single nucleotide variants of vascular endothelial growth factor A and the risk of thyroid carcinoma and nodular goiter in a Han Chinese population

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether genetic variants in the vascular endothelial growth factor A gene (VEGFA) were risk factors for papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) or nodular goiter (NG) in Han Chinese. A total of 2,319 subjects (861 PTC patients, 562 NG patients, and 896 healthy controls) were included. Five tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tagSNPs: rs3024997, rs3025040, rs833070, rs25648, and rs10434) in VEGFA were genotyped. SNP rs3025040 T allele was associated with a decreased risk of NG (P<0.05). SNP rs3024997 was associated with an increased risk of PTC (P<0.05) and NG (P<0.001) when an over-dominant model (AA+GG vs. AG) was considered. PTC patients carry the less frequent TT genotype (compared to the CC genotype) (P <0.05) of SNP rs3025040. Likewise, NG patients have the less frequent TC genotype compared to the CC (P <0.05). No significant association of SNPs rs833070, rs25648, and rs10434 with PTC or NG was observed. Haplotypes AT (rs3024997 and rs3025040) and GTA (rs10434, rs3025040, and rs3024997) showed a lower risk for NG (P <0.01 and P <0.05, respectively), while haplotypes GTT (rs833070, rs3025040, and rs3024997) and GGGT (rs833070, rs10434, rs3024997, and rs3025040) predicted the risk of progression to NG (both P <0.05). Haplotype AGAC (rs833070, rs10434, rs3024997, and rs3025040) conferred protection for PTC (P <0.05). In summary, this study indicated for the first time that SNPs rs3024997 and rs3025040 in VEGFA were significantly associated with PTC and/or NG. Haplotypes of the VEGFA may influence the risk of PTC and NG.

Melatonin downregulates nuclear receptor RZR/RORγ expression causing growth-inhibitory and anti-angiogenesis activity in human gastric cancer cells in vitro and in vivo

An adequate supply of oxygen and nutrients, derived from the formation of novel blood vessels, is critical for the growth and expansion of tumor cells. It has been demonstrated that melatonin (MLT) exhibits marked in vitro and in vivo oncostatic activities. The primary purpose of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antitumor activity of MLT on the growth and angiogenesis of gastric cancer cells, and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms. The present results revealed that MLT inhibited the growth of gastric cancer SGC-7901 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. In addition, the present study demonstrated that low concentrations (0.01, 0.1 and 1 mM) of MLT had no clear effect on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) secretion, whereas a high concentration (3 mM) of MLT suppressed VEGF secretion in SGC-7901 cells. Notably, administration of MLT caused suppression of gastric cancer growth and blockade of tumor angiogenesis in tumor-bearing nude mice. Furthermore, MLT treatment reduced the expression of the MLT nuclear receptor RZR/RORγ, SUMO-specific protease 1, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and VEGF at transcriptional and translational levels within gastric cancer cells during tumorigenesis. In conclusion, MLT nuclear receptor RZR/RORγ may be of great importance in the MLT mediated anti-angiogenesis and growth-inhibitory effect in gastric cancer cells. Since RZR/RORγ is overexpressed in multiple human cancers, MLT may be a promising agent for the treatment of cancers.

Involvement of nuclear receptor RZR/RORγ in melatonin-induced HIF-1α inactivation in SGC-7901 human gastric cancer cells

The melatonin nuclear receptor is an orphan member of the nuclear receptor superfamily RZR/ROR, which consists of three subtypes (α, β and γ), suggesting that immunomodulatory and antitumor effects through the intracellular action of melatonin depend on nuclear signaling. In the present study, the biological mechanisms of melatonin were elucidated in association with the RZR/RORγ pathway in SGC-7901 human gastric cancer cells under hypoxia. Melatonin suppressed the activity of RZR/RORγ and SUMO-specific protease 1 (SENP1) signaling pathway, which is essential for stabilization of hypoxia‑inducible factor-1α (HIF‑1α) during hypoxia. Furthermore, melatonin inhibited the stability of HIF-1α in a time- and conce-ntration-dependent manner in SGC-7901 human gastric cancer cells during hypoxia. Consistently, siRNA-RZR/RORγ effectively blocked the expression of SENP1, HIF-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) production in SGC-7901 cells under hypoxia, suggesting the role of nuclear receptor RZR/RORγ in melatonin-inhibited HIF-1α and VEGF accumulation. Moreover, siRNA RZR/RORγ obviously antagonized to inhibit the action of the gastric cancer cell proliferation by melatonin. Our findings suggest that melatonin suppresses HIF-1α accumulation and VEGF generation via inhibition of melatonin nuclear receptor RZR/RORγ in SGC-7901 cells under hypoxia.