Association between vascular growth factor gene -2578C>A, +1612G>A polymorphism and the risk of renal cell carcinoma: a meta-analysis

Previous studies have investigated the associations between polymorphisms of vascular growth factor (VEGF) gene and risk of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). However, the results were inconsistent. The present metaanalysis was therefore designed to clarify these controversies. The meta-analysis was performed by searching Pub Med, Web of Science and Embase databases. Odds ratio (OR) and corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) as well as effect size were calculated by a fixed-effect model according to the I2 value. A total of 6 studies including 1397 cases and 2094 controls for -2578C>A of VEGF and 1184 cases and 1862 controls for +1612G>A of VEGF were combined. The pooled results showing evidence of association between VEGF gene -2578C>A polymorphism and RCC risk (for A/A vs. C/C: OR=1.69, 95% CI=1.37-2.07, P<0.00001; for C/A vs. C/C: OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.121.52, P=0.0006; for C/A+A/A vs. C/C: OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.21-1.61, P<0.00001; for A/A vs. C/A+C/C: OR=1.43, 95% CI=1.19-1.73, P=0.0002; for A allele vs. C allele: OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.19-1.45, P<0.00001). However, there was no significant association between VEGF +1612G>A polymorphism and RCC except comparing additive model (for A/A vs. G/G: OR=1.33, 95% CI=1.02,1.74, P=0.03; for G/A vs. G/G: OR=1.09, 95% CI=0.93-1.27, P=0.30; for G/A+A/A vs. G/G: OR=1.12, 95% CI=0.96-1.30, P=0.14; for A/A vs. G/A+G/G: OR=1.27, 95% CI=0.99-1.64, P=0.06; for A allele vs. G allele: OR=1.12, 95% CI=1.00-1.25, P=0.05). In conclusion, our results indicated that VEGF -2578C>A polymorphism, but not VEGF +1612G>A polymorphism was associated with the risk of RCC.