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Int J Med Sci 2012; 9(10):833-837. doi:10.7150/ijms.4914 This issue Cite

Research Paper

VEGF -634C/G Genotype is Predictive of Long-term Survival after Treatment with a Definitive 5-Fluorouracil/cisplatin-based Chemoradiotherapy in Japanese Patients with Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Takao Tamura ^1,2, Akiko Kuwahara^2,3, Motohiro Yamamori^2,3, Kohshi Nishiguchi ^2,4, Tsutomu Nakamura², Tatsuya Okuno ², Ikuya Miki ², Yuki Manabe⁵, Toshiyuki Sakaeda ^{2,5 ✉}

1. Department of Medical Oncology, Nara Hospital, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, Nara 630-0293, Japan.
2. Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe 650-0017, Japan.
3. School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Mukogawa Women's University, Nishinomiya 663-8179, Japan.
4. Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto 607-8414, Japan.
5. Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.

✉ Corresponding author: Toshiyuki Sakaeda, Ph.D., Center for Integrative Education in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan, Tel: +81-75-753-9560, Fax: +81-75-753-9253, e-mail: sakaedatkyoto-u.ac.jp. More

Abstract

Background: Reports have been accumulating that genetic properties are predictive of clinical response after and/or toxicity during cancer chemotherapy, but little information is available concerning effects on long-term survival. In this study, 49 Japanese patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) were followed up for 5 years after treatment with a definitive 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/cisplatin (CDDP)-based chemoradiotherapy (CRT), and the effects of genotypes of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were retrospectively revaluated in terms of prediction of long-term survival.

Methods: A course consisted of the continuous infusion of 5-FU at 400 mg/m²/day for days 1-5 and 8-12, the infusion of CDDP at 40 mg/m²/day on days 1 and 8, and radiation at 2 Gy/day on days 1 to 5, 8 to 12, and 15 to 19, with a second course repeated after a 2-week interval. The VEGF genotypes -1498T/C, -1154G/A, -634C/G, -7C/T, 936C/T, and 1612G/A were evaluated.

Results: The complete response (CR) rate was 46.9% (23/49). The 5-year survival rate was 42.9 % (21/49). There were 7 patients with a CR, but survival of less than 5 years. They died from myocardial infarction (N=1), sudden cardiac death after suffering from heart failure (N=1), acute myeloid leukemia that developed from myelodysplastic syndromes (N=1), factors not specified (N=2), oropharynx cancer (N=1), and tongue cancer (N=1). VEGF -634C/G had no effect on clinical response, but long-term survival depended on the genotype (p=0.033, Fisher's; p=0.038, Cochran-Armitage; p=0.079, Log-rank). The genotype frequency of 7 patients with a CR, but survival of less than 5 years was different from that for the other 42 patients (p=0.032, Fisher's). None of the other 5 genotypes evaluated affected either clinical response or survival.

Conclusions: VEGF -634C/G is possibly predictive of long-term survival after treatment with a definitive 5-FU/CDDP-based CRT. Further clinical studies with a larger number of cases are needed to clarify the effects of this genotype.

Keywords: esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, chemoradiotherapy, late toxicity, prognosis, vascular endothelial growth factor.

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