title: Two polymorphisms of the tumour necrosis factor gene do not influence survival in pancreatic cancer.
abstract: Polymorphisms of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) gene have been related to TNF production and outcome in a variety of inflammatory and malignant diseases. Proinflammatory cytokines and the inflammatory state appear to affect outcome in pancreatic cancer. Thus, the present study examined the TNFB and TNF-308 polymorphisms for their relationship to the inflammatory state and survival in pancreatic cancer. Sixty-four patients with advanced pancreatic cancer and 101 healthy subjects were genotyped for each polymorphism. Serum concentrations of the two TNF receptors and C-reactive protein (CRP) were measured in 45 of the cancer patients with no evidence of infection or jaundice, 1 month after surgical intervention. There was no difference in distribution of genotypes between the patient and control groups. There was no association between any genotype and concentrations of any of the measured inflammatory mediators. While those with an elevated CRP concentration had significantly poorer survival, there was no association between either TNF genotype and survival. This study found no association between TNF genotype and the inflammatory state or survival in advanced pancreatic cancer. Other cytokines may be more important than TNF in determining the inflammatory state and disease progress in pancreatic cancer.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Barber
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: S F
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Gough
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Fearon
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ross
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor / Q000097:blood; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D017741:Survivors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; D018124:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor; D047888:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type I; D047889:Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor, Type II; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein