Association of the 463G-A myeloperoxidase gene polymorphism with gastric cancer risk.

Background/aims: To explore the association between polymorphism of myeloperoxidase (MPO) gene and the susceptibility to gastric cancer.

Methodology: A case control study of 117 gastric cancer patients and 105 controls was conducted to investigate the polymorphism of MPO gene 463G-A using the polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The association between polymorphism and the risk of gastric cancer was examined by a multivariate analysis. Stratification analysis by age, gender, smoking status, H. pylori (Hp) infection and family history of gastric cancer was performed.

Results: In gastric cancer group the frequencies of the cases caring genotype G/G, G/A, A/A were 70.94%, 25.64% and 3.42%, respectively. In healthy control group, the frequency of genotype G/G, G/A, A/A was 51.43%, 37.14% and 11.43%, respectively. The frequency of genotype G/A and A/A in cancer group was found significantly higher than that in healthy control group (p<0.05). Compared with the MPO-463 G/G genotype, individuals with GA/AA genotype had a significantly decreased risk of gastric cancer (OR=0.50, 95%CI=0.28-0.90). In the stratification analysis, patients younger than 60 years old, male, Hp-IgG negative and with no family history of gastric cancer with genotype GA/AA had lower risk than those with genotype G/G.

Conclusions: MPO gene polymorphism is associated with susceptibility of gastric cancer. It is conceivable that carriers of the A allele may be at reduced risk of gastric cancer.