ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of vascular endothelial growth factor (_VEGF_) genotypes with treatment efficacy in a phase II trial. This study evaluated

weekly docetaxel, as first-line treatment for metastatic breast cancer. Existing data from _in vitro_ and animal model experiments suggest that docetaxel at low doses has anti-angiogenic

activity. DNA was extracted from blood samples of 86 patients participating in the trial. Genotyping was performed for selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; _VEGF_−2578, −1498,

−1154, and +936). Moreover, due to the highly polymorphic nature of the studied areas, we were able to analyze additional registered SNPs. All candidate genotypes were evaluated for

0.17–0.98; pairwise _P_=0.0457). Patients with the _VEGF_−1190 GG genotype demonstrated shorter PFS compared with those with the alternative genotypes (GA and AA) combined (HR=3.85; 95% CI:

1.20–12.50; _P_=0.0224). In addition, the _VEGF_−2551/−2534 homozygous del18bp and _VEGF_−2430/−2425 homozygous ins1bp genotypes were associated with worse PFS compared with no deletion and

no insertion, respectively (HR=2.49; 95% CI: 1.02–6.07; pairwise _P_=0.0442 and HR=2.57; 95% CI: 1.05–6.27; pairwise _P_=0.0385, respectively). Furthermore, patients with the _VEGF_−1498 CC

genotype exhibited longer median OS compared with those with the alternatives genotypes (CT and TT) combined (HR=0.27; 95% CI: 0.08–0.89; _P_=0.0311). In multivariate analysis, the

_VEGF_−2578 AA genotype retained its significance (_P_=0.0220) for PFS. Our results support the association of specific _VEGF_ genotypes with clinical outcome in patients with metastatic

breast cancer treated with a potentially anti-angiogenic regimen, such as weekly docetaxel. However, current results should be validated prospectively in larger cohorts. Access through your

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BEING VIEWED BY OTHERS PROSPECTIVE VALIDATION OF _VEGF_ AND _ENOS_ POLYMORPHISMS AS PREDICTORS OF FIRST-LINE BEVACIZUMAB EFFICACY IN PATIENTS WITH METASTATIC COLORECTAL CANCER Article Open

access 09 August 2023 _VEGF-A_, _VEGFR1_ AND _VEGFR2_ SINGLE NUCLEOTIDE POLYMORPHISMS AND OUTCOMES FROM THE AGITG MAX TRIAL OF CAPECITABINE, BEVACIZUMAB AND MITOMYCIN C IN METASTATIC

COLORECTAL CANCER Article Open access 24 January 2022 INFLUENCE OF NOS3 RS2070744 GENOTYPES ON HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA PATIENTS TREATED WITH LENVATINIB Article Open access 13 October 2020

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Scholar  Download references AUTHOR INFORMATION AUTHORS AND AFFILIATIONS * Division of Oncology, Department of Medicine, University Hospital, University of Patras Medical School, Patras,

Greece A K Koutras & H P Kalofonos * Department of Pathology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece V Kotoula & K Papadopoulou * Department of

Clinical Therapeutics, ‘Alexandra’ Hospital, University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece C Papadimitriou & F Zagouri * Department of Medical Oncology, ‘Papageorgiou’

Hospital, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Medicine, Thessaloniki, Greece D Dionysopoulos & G Fountzilas * Department of Pathology, University Hospital of Patras, Patras,

Greece H P Kourea * Second Department of Medical Oncology, ‘Metropolitan’ Hospital, Piraeus, Greece D V Skarlos * Third Department of Medical Oncology, ‘Agii Anargiri’ Cancer Hospital,

Athens, Greece E Samantas * Second Department of Medical Oncology, Hygeia Hospital, Athens, Greece P Kosmidis * Second Department of Internal Medicine, Oncology Section, ‘Hippokration’

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ARTICLE CITE THIS ARTICLE Koutras, A., Kotoula, V., Papadimitriou, C. _et al._ Vascular endothelial growth factor polymorphisms and clinical outcome in patients with metastatic breast cancer

treated with weekly docetaxel. _Pharmacogenomics J_ 14, 248–255 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/tpj.2013.36 Download citation * Received: 25 May 2013 * Revised: 03 August 2013 * Accepted:

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initiative KEYWORDS * breast cancer * clinical outcome * polymorphisms * vascular endothelial growth factor * weekly docetaxel