TGF-β/VEGF-A Genetic Variants Interplay in Genetic Susceptibility to Non-Melanocytic Skin Cancer

Differential genetically determined expression of transforming growth factor-? (TGF-? pathway and of vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) might modulate the molecular "milieu" involved in the etio-pathogenesis of non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC). We have evaluated the frequency of some functionally relevant SNPs of TGF-? and VEGF-A genes in 70 NMSC patients and 161 healthy controls, typed for TGF-?1 rs1800471, TGF-?2 rs900, TGF-?R1 rs334348 and rs334349, TGF-?R2 rs4522809 and VEGF-A rs3025039 SNPs. TGF-?R2 rs1800629G allele and related genotypes were found to be associated with a possible protective role against NMSC, whereas VEGF-A rs3025039T was associated with an increased risk. To evaluate the effect of genotype combinations on NMSC susceptibility, we determined the frequencies of 31 pseudo-haplotypes due to non-random linkage among alleles of loci not lying on the same chromosome. Two pseudo-haplotypes that imply a minor allele of TGF-?R2 or minor allele of VEGF-A SNPs combined with major alleles of the other SNPs were, respectively, associated with a protective effect, and susceptibility to NMSC. In addition, a pseudo-haplotype involving minor alleles of TGF-?2 rs900, TGF-?R1 rs334348 and rs4522809 SNPs might be a susceptibility marker for NMSC. In conclusion, our data suggest that a complex interplay among the genetic polymorphisms of TGF-?, TGF-? receptors and VEGF-A genes might influence the net effect of genetic background of the patients on NMSC development. This might be relevant in the risk evaluation, diagnosis and treatment of NMSC.