Background: Hypoxic environment of pancreatic cancer (PC) implicates high vascular in-growth, which may be influenced by angiogenesis-related germline polymorphisms. Our purpose was to evaluate polymorphisms of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2), CXC chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR-2), proteinase-activated receptor 1 (PAR-1) and endostatin (ES) as prognostic markers for disease-free (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in PC.
Patients and methods: Genotyping of 173 patients, surgically treated for PC between 2004 and 2011, was carried out by TaqMan(®) genotyping assays or polymerase chain reaction. Chi-square test, Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox regression hazard model were used to assess the prognostic value of selected polymorphisms.
Results: VEGFR-2 -906 T/T and PAR-1 -506 Del/Del genotypes predicted longer DFS (P = 0.003, P = 0.014) and OS (VEGFR-2 -906, P = 0.011). CXCR-2 +1208 T/T genotype was a negative predictor for DFS (P < 0.0001). Combined analysis for DFS and OS indicated that patients with the fewest number of favorable genotypes simultaneously present (VEGFR-2 -906 T/T, CXCR-2 +1208 C/T or C/C and PAR-1 -506 Del/Del) were at the highest risk for recurrence or death (P < 0.0001).
Conclusion: VEGFR-2 -906 C>T, CXCR-2 +1208 C>T and PAR-1 -506 Ins/Del polymorphisms are potential predictors for survival in PC.