AML-033: Prognosis of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Gene Polymorphism in Egyptian Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Abstract

Objectives The main target of this study is to investigate the relationship between VEGF gene polymorphism (rs699947) with AML. Angiogenesis is an important process in hematological malignancies, especially leukemia. Its role in acute leukemia has been discussed since the cloning of the gene of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from the acute myelogenous leukemia cell line (HL60). VEGF, a polymorphic gene, plays a key role in angiogenesis and tumor growth. Its different genotypes are associated with many human diseases. Increased angiogenesis, mediated by VEGF, was associated with poor prognosis in AML patients. AML, which arises from neoplastic transformation of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells, remains one of the greater challenges in treating this AML. VEGF 699947 SNP is found in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells of Iranian, Australian, Caucasia and African patients with acute myeloid leukemia. The main target of this study is to investigate the relationship between VEGF gene polymorphism (rs699947) with AML. Patients and methods In the study, 100 and 76 subjects in each group respectively, Group (1): a healthy control group and Group (2): AML diagnosed patients were included. Blood samples were genotyped using tetra-primer amplification-refractory mutation system (ARMS-PCR) and the results were confirmed by PCR-RFLP method. Our results suggest that there is a correlation between rs699947 SNP and AML development and prognosis. However, patients with 2578 AA/CC genotypes were associated with significant better CR in comparison to patients with 2578 CA genotype (p=0.0001). We found that certain polymorphisms are associated significantly with remissions while others with worse response to induction chemotherapy.