Association of miRNA-499 rs3746444 A>G variants with adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG) risk and lymph node status

BACKGROUND: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) miRNA-499 rs3746444 A>G polymorphism may be complicated in the susceptibility to cancer. However, the correlation of this polymorphism with adenocarcinoma of esophagogastric junction (AEG) was unknown. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 1063 AEG patients and 1677 controls were included in this study to assess the association of miR-499 rs3746444 A>G with AEG risk. SNPscan(TM) genotyping assay was harnessed to obtain the genotypes of miRNA-499 rs3746444 A>G polymorphism. RESULTS: We identified that SNP miR-499 rs3746444 A>G increased the susceptibility of AEG (AG vs AA: adjusted OR=1.25, 95% CI=1.05–1.49, P=0.012 and AG/GG vs AA: adjusted OR=1.30, 95% CI=1.10–1.54, P=0.002). In a stratified analysis, we found that miR-499 rs3746444 A>G polymorphism had an increased susceptibility of AEG in several subgroups (male subgroup: AG vs AA: adjusted P=0.004 and AG/GG vs AA: adjusted P=0.002; female subgroup: GG vs AG/AA: adjusted P=0.046; <64 years subgroup: AG vs AA: adjusted P=0.006 and AG/GG vs AA: adjusted P=0.003; never smoking subgroup: AG vs AA: adjusted P=0.003 and AG/GG vs AA: adjusted P=0.001; and never drinking subgroup: AG vs AA: adjusted P=0.008 and AG/GG vs AA: adjusted P=0.002). The results of power calculation indicated that miR-499 rs3746444 A>G polymorphism increased the risk of AEG in overall comparison, male, <64 years, never smoking, and never drinking subgroups. Among the AEG cases, 625 patients accompanied by positive lymph node. However, the distribution of miRNA-499 rs3746444 A>G variants was no significant difference between different lymph node status. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that miR-499 rs3746444 A>G polymorphism is significantly associated with AEG susceptibility. In the future, further exploration of this genetic factor in relation to AEG susceptibility with an adequate methodological quality is needed.