Polymorphisms in MYCN gene and neuroblastoma risk in Chinese children: a 3-center case–control study

INTRODUCTION: Neuroblastoma is an embryonal tumor of the sympathetic nervous system. The MYCN oncogene is amplified in some neuroblastoma patients and correlated with poor prognosis. However, less is known regarding the relationship between MYCN gene single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and neuroblastoma risk. PATIENTS AND METHODS: To investigate the contribution of MYCN gene polymorphisms to neuroblastoma risk, we performed a 3-center case–control study by genotyping 4 SNPs in the MYCN gene from 429 cases and 884 controls. RESULTS: The results showed that only rs57961569 G>A was associated with neuroblastoma risk (GA vs GG: adjusted odds ratio =0.76, 95% confidence interval =0.60–0.98, P=0.033), while the other 3 SNPs were not (rs9653226 T>C, rs13034994 A>G, and rs60226897 G>A). Stratified analysis revealed that rs57961569 GG carriers were more likely to develop neuroblastoma in the following subgroups: children older than 18 months, tumor derived from the adrenal gland, and clinical stages III + IV. The increased neuroblastoma risk associated with the rs9653226 variant CC genotypes was more evident in the following subgroups: females, tumor derived from the adrenal gland, and clinical stages III + IV. The presence of 2–3 risk genotypes had a significant relationship with the following subgroups: tumor derived from the adrenal gland and clinical stages III + IV. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates a weak impact of MYCN gene polymorphisms on neuroblastoma risk, which should be further validated.