The -160 (C>A) CDH1 Gene Promoter Polymorphism and Its Relationship with Survival of Patients with Gastric Cancer in Kurdistan

INTRODUCTION: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common type of neoplasm and the second cause of malignancy-related death across much of the world. Complex multi-factorial processes are involved in its genesis, classified in two determinant clusters: non-genetic and genetic. Variation in CDH1 gene expression may play an important role in increasing risk of diffuse and intestinal subtypes of GC. This tumor suppressor gene, located on chromosome 16q22.1, encodes a trans membrane glycoprotein called epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this historical cohort study, from June 2004 to Journey 2005 we collected 50 samples from Kurdish patients with stage II pathologically diagnosed gastric cancer that underwent surgery. Tumor tissues were paraffin-embedded along with 54 control samples from non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) cases undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Three biopsies were captured by endoscopy from each individual’s gastric antrum. RESULT: The mean age of the patients was 59.5±2 years. Some 23 cases (53.4%) had the CC genotype, 19 AC and 1 AA. H.pylori infection was noted in 30 patients (69%). Survival rates of gastric cancer patients were 90.7% in the first year, 39.5% in the second year and 6.9% in the third year. Female patients had higher survival rates (P=0.004). CONCLUSION: In this study we found that frequencies of -160(C>A) CDH1 genotypes were not comparable in H.pylori-infected and H.pylori-uninfected subjects in both case and control groups. These findings suggest that -160 (C>A) CDH1 polymorphism is not related with H.pylori infection susceptibility. In addition we found no significant relationship between the CDH1 -160(C/A) promoter polymorphism with predisposition to gastric cancer.