The polymorphism +405G>C of the VEGF gene was examined in n = 203 Italian women affected by endometriosis and in n = 140 women without laparoscopic evidence of the disease.
Vascular density and distribution of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its receptor VEGFR-2 (Flk-1) are significantly higher in patients with deeply infiltrating endometriosis affecting the rectum.
Infiltrating neutrophil granulocytes are a particularly rich source of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in the endometrium and may contribute to the angiogenesis of endometriosis lesions.
This study was performed to investigate whether the VEGF gene 5'-untranslated region polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to advanced stage endometriosis.
The -460T/+405C haplotype in the VEGF gene, which is associated with lower promoter activity, was significantly less common in women with endometriosis than in controls.
These results suggest that endometriosis may arise from eutopic endometrium with higher levels of angiogenic activity possibly induced by VEGF-A in women with endometriosis.
We also studied the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and epidermal growth factor-receptor (EGF-Rc) whose function in angiogenesis implies an active role in endometriosis.