p53 codon 72 polymorphism in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer in a Korean population

Background

The common p53 codon 72 polymorphism has been investigated as a risk factor for cancer in different populations; however, the results have been inconsistent. This study investigated the risk of developing gastric or colorectal cancer associated with the p53 codon 72 polymorphism in a Korean population.

Methods

We conducted a large-scale case?Ccontrol study that included 2,213 gastric cancer patients; 1,829 colorectal cancer patients; and 1,700 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), using a TaqMan single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assay.

Results

The frequencies of Arg/Arg, Arg/Pro, and Pro/Pro genotypes of the p53 codon 72 polymorphism were 43.3, 42.0, and 13.0% in the gastric cancer patients; 40.5, 45.0, and 14.0% in the colorectal cancer patients; and 43.2, 45.6, and 11.2% in the controls, respectively. The Pro/Pro genotype was associated with an increased risk of gastric [age- and sex-adjusted odds ratio (OR)?=?1.25, 95% confidence interval (CI)?=?1.01?C1.56, P?=?0.04] and colorectal cancer (OR?=?1.36, 95% CI?=?1.07?C1.72, P?=?0.01). There were no significant interactions between the p53 codon 72 polymorphism and smoking or drinking.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that the Pro/Pro genotype is associated with modest increases in the risks of gastric cancer and colorectal cancer in a Korean population.