title: Decreased digit ratio (2D:4D) and gastric cancer in Chinese men.
abstract: The development of finger length is influenced by the level of hormones during pregnancy in the womb. The relative length of 2nd to 4th digit (2D:4D) is considered as a putative marker for prenatal hormone exposure and may represent an individual susceptibility to certain diseases, particularly those hormone-related cancers (e.g., gastric cancer).
  
  
  
  The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a possible relationship between 2D:4D ratio and gastric cancer (GCA) in Chinese men.
  
  
  
  94 male patients with GCA and 91 controls were chosen to participate in this study. Photographs of both hands were collected and then the lengths of second and fourth digits of both hands were measured. Left hand, right hand, mean hand, and right minus left hand (∆R-L) 2D:4D ratios were analyzed and compared.
  
  
  
  In GCA group, 2D:4D ratios were significantly lower (right hand: p<0.01; left hand, mean hand: p<0.001) than controls. No association was observed between 2D:4D ratio and tumor staging (neither in tumor size (T) nor in lymph node involvement (N) or distant metastases (M)). There was also no correlation between 2D:4D ratio and age of onset.
  
  
  
  Decreased 2D:4D ratio may be an indicator for forecasting the susceptibility to develop GCA.
authors: Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics/Department of Medical Genetics and Cell Biology, Yinchuan 750004, PR China.
authors: Youjing
authors: Y
authors: Sheng
authors: Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics/Department of Medical Genetics and Cell Biology, Yinchuan 750004, PR China.
authors: Wenli
authors: W
authors: Qian
authors: Clinical Medicine Science, Peking University Health Science Center, Beijing 100191, PR China.
authors: Lu
authors: L
authors: Wang
authors: Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics/Department of Medical Genetics and Cell Biology, Yinchuan 750004, PR China.
authors: Zhenghao
authors: Z
authors: Huo
authors: Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics/Department of Medical Genetics and Cell Biology, Yinchuan 750004, PR China. Electronic address: chuan773@126.com.
authors: Hong
authors: H
authors: Lu
authors: Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics/Department of Medical Genetics and Cell Biology, Yinchuan 750004, PR China.
authors: Haochen
authors: H
authors: Yu
authors: Ningxia Medical University, Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education/Key Laboratory of Reproduction and Genetics/Department of Medical Genetics and Cell Biology, Yinchuan 750004, PR China.
authors: Zhi
authors: Z
authors: Geng
authors: Surgical Oncology of General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan 750004, PR China.
authors: Ping
authors: P
authors: Cheng
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D005385:Fingers / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology
keywords: Digit ratio (2D:4D); Gastric cancer (GCA); Sexual hormones