VASCULAR ENDOTHELIAL GROWTH FACTOR (VEGF) GENOTYPE AND SERUM CONCENTRATION IN PATIENTS WITH PANCREATIC ADENOCARCINOMA AND CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is necessary for microvasculature development and important for growth and spread of pancreatic tumors. Functional polymorphism of VEGF gene at position C-460T and G+405C may influence VEGF serum level. VEGF gene polymorphisms at position C-460T and G+405C were evaluated in 85 patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA), 72 - with chronic pancreatitis (CP) and 50 healthy volunteers. VEGF genotypes were studied in DNA isolated from blood samples and serum VEGF concentrations were measured. We found an increased frequency of the homozygous +405C/C VEGF genotype in patients with PA (55.3%) compared with CP (25%) and control group (16%; p<0.01). In contrast, the distribution of genotype and allele frequencies of the -460C/T polymorphism in the PA patients did not differ from those in CP and control groups. Serum levels of VEGF were significantly higher in PA patients (mean level: 441+/-37.2 pg/ml) compared with CP patients (217+/-13.6 pg/ml; p<0.001) and control group (137+/-7.7 pg/ml; p<0.001). No relationship between VEGF serum levels and VEGF gene polymorphisms have been found. Our findings suggest that +405C/C VEGF genotype may contribute to pancreatic carcinogenesis. VEGF serum levels, although elevated in PA patients, are not associated with analysed VEGF polymorphisms.