Significant effect of VEGFA polymorphisms on the clinical outcome of metastatic colorectal cancer patients treated with FOLFIRI-cetuximab

Abstract

Aim: The efficacy of a cetuximab-based regimen used to treat metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) could be influenced by VEGFA polymorphisms.

Materials & methods: We studied the effects of five polymorphisms in the VEGFA gene (-2549D/I, -1154G/A, -460T/C, +405G/C and +936C/T) on the outcome of 98 mCRC patients treated with FOLFIRI plus cetuximab.

Results: Patients homozygous for the -2549D, -1154G and -460T alleles did exhibit higher response rates to treatment and longer progression-free survival compared with others. In addition, the DGTGC and IGCGC haplotypes were significantly associated with a lower risk of disease progression.

Conclusion: These findings suggest that VEGFA genetic variations might influence response/resistance of FOLFIRI plus cetuximab treatment in mCRC patients.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00559741.

Keywords: SNPs; VEGFA; biomarkers; cetuximab; colorectal cancer.