Polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor in esophageal, gastric or colorectal carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Several microsatellite polymorphisms located in the tumor necrosis factor locus on the chromosomal region 6p21.3 in the major histocompatibility complex region have been associated with malignant neoplasms and autoimmune diseases. In this study, we focused on the polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor a and d from gastrointestinal carcinoma patients to ascertain whether they can be useful to predict these neoplasms.


METHODS
We examined esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers (47, 53, 77 patients, respectively), and 213 normal controls. To compare the microsatellite polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor a, d in Japanese individuals, dioxyribonucleic acids were extracted from normal mucosa (cancer patients) and from peripheral blood monocytes (the normal controls) by polymerase chain reaction.


RESULTS
The frequency of tumor necrosis factor a3 allele was significantly higher in gastric cancer (P = 0.012) and that of tumor necrosis factor d7 allele was significantly higher in the colorectal cancer than the normal controls (P = 0.037). That of tumor necrosis factor a10 was significantly lower in the gastric cancer than the normal controls (P = 0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Microsatellite polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor a and d might be significantly correlated with carcinogenesis of specific neoplasms, and may be useful for predicting these cancers.
Saito
S
S
Department of Surgery II, School of Medicine, Nagoya University, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8550 Japan.
Kasai
Y
Y
Nomoto
S
S
Fujiwara
M
M
Akiyama
S
S
Ito
K
K
Nakao
A
A
D000483:Alleles; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018895:Microsatellite Repeats; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha