TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and neuroblastoma susceptibility in eastern Chinese children: a three-center case–control study

TP53 is a tumor suppressor gene that regulates cell growth, apoptosis and DNA repair. Previous studies have reported the contribution of TP53 Arg72Pro (rs1042522 C>G) polymorphism to pathogenesis of multiple tumors. Hence, we evaluated the association between this polymorphism and neuroblastoma susceptibility in eastern Chinese children. The Taqman genotyping assay was performed in 373 patients and 762 controls. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to assess the strength of the association. No significant association was found between the TP53 gene rs1042522 C>G polymorphism and neuroblastoma susceptibility in the overall analysis (CG vs. CC: adjusted OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.70–1.22, P=0.567; GG vs. CC: adjusted OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.69–1.42, P=0.947; CG/GG vs. CC: adjusted OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.72–1.23, P=0.639; or GG vs. CC/CG: adjusted OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 0.75–1.43, P=0.814) and stratified analysis by age, gender, sites of origin, and clinical stages. The TP53 gene rs1042522 C>G polymorphism may not be a risk factor for neuroblastoma in eastern Chinese children. Future studies are needed to confirm this negative result and to reveal additional functional TP53 variants predisposing to neuroblastoma.