Relationship between vascular endothelial growth factor -2578C > a gene polymorphism and lung cancer risk: a meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Several reports were published on the relationship between the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) -2578C > A gene polymorphism and lung cancer risk; however, the results are debatable. This meta-analysis was conducted to assess the relationship between VEGF -2578C > A gene polymorphism and lung cancer risk. METHODS: The associated literatures were identified on the 1st of September 2018 from CBM-disc (China Biological Medicine Database) and PubMed. RESULT: A total of 14 reports were recruited into our meta-analysis to assess the association between VEGF -2578C > A gene polymorphism and lung cancer susceptibility. There was a marked association between VEGF -2578C > A A allele / CC genotype and lung cancer risk in overall and Asian populations (overall populations: A allele: OR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08–1.46, P = 0.003; CC genotype: OR = 0.72, 95% CI: 0.54–0.95, P = 0.02; Asians: A allele: OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.15–1.55, P = 0.0002; CC genotype: OR = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.50–0.93, P = 0.01). However, VEGF -2578C > A gene polymorphism was not associated with the risk of lung cancer in Caucasians. CONCLUSION: VEGF -2578C > A A allele / CC genotype is associated with the lung cancer susceptibility in Asians and in overall populations.