title: Relationship between serotonin transporter gene polymorphism and constipation in cancer patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To assess the potential association between serotonin transporter gene insertion/deletion polymorphism and the cancer-related constipation phenotype.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 120 patients diagnosed with malignant solid tumors were subjected to genotyping. For the two groups - patients with constipation and constipation-free patients with non-gastrointestinal cancer, 60 cases in each group - we collected the peripheral venous blood. We extracted genomic DNA, and used polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to analyze the serotonin transporter (5-HT) link polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) polymorphism of the serotonin transporter gene.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequency of S/S genotype in cancer patients with constipation was 66.67% (40/60), and the frequency of the S allele was 79.17% (95/120); the frequency of S/S genotype in cancer patients without constipation was 48.33% (29/60), and the frequency of the S allele was 65.83% (79/120). There was a significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of 5-HTTLPRS/S genotype and the S allele in patients with cancers probably carry an increased risk of constipation. However, its role as a cause of cancer-related constipation needs to be further investigated.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, the 1 Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang Henan Prov., PR China.
authors.forename: Weiwei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, the 1 Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang Henan Prov., PR China.
authors.forename: Luli
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, the 1 Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang Henan Prov., PR China.
authors.forename: Weimei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesia, the 1 Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang Henan Prov., PR China.
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Invasive Technology, the 1 Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang Henan Prov., PR China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, the 1 Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang Henan Prov., PR China.
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, the 1 Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang Henan Prov., PR China.
authors.forename: Yanzheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: the 1 Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, PR China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lu
keywords: cancer; constipation; genetic polymorphism; serotonin transporter