IRGM gene polymorphisms and risk of gastric cancer

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to assess the possible association of polymorphisms in the autophagy gene IRGM (rs13361189 and rs4958847) with the risk of gastric cancer. METHODS: A total of 102 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma, 52 with chronic gastritis and 351 healthy controls were included in this study. IRGM allelic variants were genotyped by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction. The association between polymorphisms and gastric cancer risk was estimated by odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A significant difference was found for rs4958847 A allele. Carriers of the A allele were protected against gastric cancer (OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.35–0.97, P = 0.038). Moreover, the presence of this allele seems to play an important role in decreasing the risk for the intestinal type of gastric cancer (OR = 0.47, 95% CI 0.23–0.94, P = 0.03). In contrast, the rs13361189 IRGM polymorphism was not associated with susceptibility to gastric cancer. None of the targeted polymorphisms were associated with chronic gastritis. CONCLUSION: IRGM rs4958847 polymorphism influences susceptibility to gastric cancer, mainly for the intestinal type.