A functional insertion/deletion polymorphism in the promoter region of the NFKB1 gene increases susceptibility for prostate cancer

The significant role of a functional polymorphism in the NF-κB1 gene in breast cancer: evidence from an Iranian cohort

Aims: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers among women. The influence of genetic variations on BC risk has been thus far assessed via genome-wide association studies. NF-κB has been recognized as a major player in BC progression. In this study, the association between rs28362491 and BC was evaluated in a population from northeastern Iran. Materials & methods: This study was conducted on 476 patients with BC and 524 healthy controls. The genotyping method used was an amplification-refractory mutation system. Results: The INS/DEL genotype conferred a statistically significant increased risk in patients in comparison with controls. Additionally, in the recessive model, INS/INS + INS/DEL versus DEL/DEL was statistically significant (OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.12-0.96; p = 0.042). Conclusion: This study found that rs28362491, as a susceptibility genetic factor, may affect BC risk in the Iranian population.

BPA-induced prostatic hyperplasia in vitro is correlated with the unbalanced gene expression of AR and ER in the epithelium and stroma

As a typical environmental endocrine disruptor (EED), bisphenol A (BPA) can induce pathological hyperplasia of the prostatic epithelium and stroma. This study concentrates mainly on the effect and underlying mechanisms of BPA on prostatic hyperplasia, which is based on the culture of primary human prostate epithelial cells (HPEpiC) and human prostate fibroblasts (HPrF). In an effect to screen the optimal pro-survival BPA levels, HPEpiC and HPrF were, respectively, exposed to concentration gradients of BPA (10^-12 M-10^-4 M) solution diluted with two corresponding medium and incubated for 72 h at 37°C. CCK-8 assay showed that 10^-9 M-10^-5 M BPA could facilitate the proliferation of HPEpiC, while similar proliferative effect of HPrF only needed 10^-11 M-10^-7 M BPA. HPrF were more sensitive to BPA than HPEpiC. The qualification of PCNA gene expression measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) also mirrored the BPA-induced cell proliferation. Additionally, our results considered that androgen receptor (AR), estrogen receptor (ERα, ERβ), and NFKB1 gene expressions exhibited up-regulation in HPEpiC treated with 10^-9 M BPA for 72 h. However, in HPrF, the identical BPA treatment could activate ERα, ERβ, and NFKB1 gene expressions and down-regulated the expression of AR levels. It is further confirmed that low-dose BPA can indeed promote the proliferation of human prostate cells in vitro, and the mechanisms of BPA for prostatic epithelial and stromal hyperplasia may not be consistent.

Nuclear factor NF-κB1 functional promoter polymorphism and its expression conferring the risk of Type 2 diabetes-associated dyslipidemia

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) accompanied by hyperlipidemia confers higher risk for diabetes as well as cardiovascular diseases. NF-κB is actively involved in generating low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress triggering the development of diabetic complications. In this study, we have attempted to investigate the association between NF-κB1 functional promoter polymorphism-94 ATTG insertion/deletion (rs28362491) with inflammatory markers in developing diabetes-linked dyslipidemia. We performed a case-control study in a total of 401 individuals belonging to three categories such as Type 2 diabetes with dyslipidemia, Type 2 diabetes without dyslipidemia, and normal healthy controls. Experiments were carried out using genotyping, real-time PCR, and western blot. Pearson's correlation, analysis of variance, and logistic regression were utilized for statistical analysis. As per genetic association conducted in this study the SNP rs28362491 showed significant allelic and genotypic associations (Allelic: OR = 1.374, CI 0.9797-1.927, p = 0.003, and Genotypic in dominant model: OR = 1.77, CI 1.04-2.99, p = 0.002) with the risk of diabetes and associated dyslipidemia. The -94 ATTG insertion/insertion (ins/ins) genotype was associated with significantly increased level of serum TNF-α (p = 0.002), serum IL-6 (p = 0.067) in diabetes-induced dyslipidemia. Multiple linear regression analysis identifies independent correlation of Total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, TNF-α, and rs28362491 ATTG ins/ins with triglyceride in diabetic dyslipidemic condition. T2DM with dyslipidemia having ins/ins genotype showed significant increased expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-6, and activation of NF-κB. Our study reports that individuals with ATTG insertion allele and ATTG ins/ins genotype at NF-κB1 promoter regulatory gene predicts the risk and severity of T2DM-linked dyslipidemia.

An updated meta-analysis of 37 case-control studies on the association between NFKB1 -94ins/del ATTG promoter polymorphism and cancer susceptibility

As a cell survival signal, nuclear factor-kappa B (NFKB) is associated with the pathogenesis of numerous malignancies. According to several studies, NFKB1 −94ins/del ATTG promoter polymorphism is associated with the risk of different malignancies, but the results were not consistent. Therefore, we performed an updated meta-analysis based on 37 case-control studies from 33 articles (16,271 cases and 22,781 controls) to clarify the relationship. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to determine the strength of the association. We found that the NFKB1 −94ins/del ATTG promoter polymorphism was significantly associated with increased susceptibility to cancer in the recessive (II vs. ID+DD, OR = 1.140, 95% CI = 1.029–1.263, p =0.012), homozygote (II vs. DD, OR = 1.259, 95% CI = 1.068–1.485, p =0.006), and allele (I vs. D, OR = 1.109, 95% CI = 1.025–1.199, p =0.010) genetic models. The subgroup analysis for ethnicity found that the NFKB1 −94ins/del ATTG promoter polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased susceptibility to cancer in Asians and with a decreased susceptibility in Caucasians. The stratified analyses revealed significant associations between the polymorphism and increased susceptibility to ovarian cancer, oral squamous cell carcinoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Rediscovery of NF-κB signaling in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: How genetic defects of NF-κB pathway interplay with EBV in driving oncogenesis?

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a unique EBV-associated subtype of head and neck cancer, which has the highest incidence in Southern China and eastern South Asia. The interaction between genetic risk factors and environmental challenge, have been considered to contribute to the development of nasopharyngeal carcinogenesis. Constitutive activation of NF-κB signaling has been seen in NPC tissues and is associated with unfavorable prognosis. Recently, several whole exome sequencing study consistently revealed that high frequency mutations of NF-κB pathway negative regulators is common in nasopharyngeal carcinoma, which reinforce the importance of NF-κB driving oncogenesis. This review focuses on the current state of research in role of NF-κB in NPC carcinogenesis. We summarized the newly identified loss of function (LOF) mutations on NF-κB negative regulators leading to it's activation bypass LMP-1 stimulation. We discussed the critical role of NF-κB activation in immortalization and transformation of nasopharygeal epithelium. We also depicted how NF-κB signaling mediated chronic inflammation contribute to persistent EBV infection, immune evasion of EBV infected cells, metabolic reprogramming, and cancer stem cells (CSCs) formation in NPC. Lastly, we discussed the clinical resonance of targeting NF-κB for NPC precise therapy.

Effects of Tobacco Habits on the Polymorphism of NFKB1 and NFKB1A Gene of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Indian Population

Background: Polymorphism of NFKB1 and NFKB1A are highly associated with cancer. We have assessed polymorphism in the promoter region of NFKB1 -94 del/ins ATTG (rs28362491) and NFKB1A -826 C/T (rs2233406) with the risk of HNSCC in Indian population. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used for the genotyping NFKB1 -94 del/ins ATTG and NFKB1A -826 C/T. Sequencing was done to validate the results of PCR-RFLP. Statistical analysis of data was done by Stata/SE-14.0 software. Results: ins/ins genotype was observed to be a risk factor of HNSCC as compared del/del genotype of NFKB1 -94 ATTG. Interactive effects of smoking and chewing on ins/ins genotype showed 13.96 and 10.92 fold increased risk of HNSCC. NFKB1A -826 C/T polymorphism, TT genotype showed no association with the risk of HNSCC as compared to wild type CC genotype. Conclusion: Our results showed NFKB1 -94 del/ins ATTG with smoking and tobacco chewing may increase the risk of HNSCC while NFKB1A -826 C/T plays a protective role in Indian population.

Association of NF-κB polymorphisms with clinical outcome of non-medullary thyroid carcinoma

The NF-κB inflammatory pathway plays a major role in cancer development and clinical progression. Activation of NF-κB signaling is promoted by NFKB1 and inhibited by NFKBIA. The present study aimed to determine the relevance of NFKB1 rs4648068 and NFKBIA rs2233406 genetic variants for non-medullary thyroid cancer (NMTC) susceptibility, progression and clinical outcome. This case-control and cohort study consists of a Romanian discovery cohort (157 patients and 258 controls) and a Dutch validation cohort (138 patients and 188 controls). In addition, patient cohorts were analyzed further for the association of genetic variants with clinical parameters. Functional studies were performed on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. No associations were observed between the studied genetic variants and TC susceptibility. Although no statistically significant associations with clinical parameters were observed for NFKB1 rs4648068, the heterozygous genotype of NFKBIA rs2233406 was correlated with decreased radioactive iodide sensitivity requiring higher cumulative dosages to achieve clinical response. These findings were discovered in the Romanian cohort (P < 0.001) and confirmed in the Dutch cohort (P = 0.01). Functional studies revealed that this NFKBIA rs2233406 genotype was associated with elevated TLR4-mediated IL-1β production. In conclusion, genetic variation in NFKBIA, an inhibitor of NF-κB signaling, is associated with clinical response to RAI therapy and with increased production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β, providing a potential mechanism for the observed clinical associations. These data suggest that NF-κB signaling is involved in NMTC pathogenesis and that the inflammatory tumor microenvironment could contribute to RAI resistance.

Identification of microRNAs associated with medullary thyroid carcinoma by bioinformatics analyses

The present study aimed to investigate the microRNA (miRNA) profile in human medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) tissue. The GSE40807 data profile was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Following preprocessing, differentially expressed microRNAs (DEMs) between MTC and healthy tissues were identified. Based on the obtained DEMs, transcription factor (TF)‑miRNA and miRNA‑target gene regulatory association pairs were predicted. Finally, functional enrichment analysis was performed on target genes of DEMs. Fifteen upregulated and 17 downregulated DEMs were identified. In the constructed TF‑miRNA regulatory network, hsa‑miR‑9‑5p was regulated by 9 TFs and hsa‑miR‑1 was regulated by 8 TFs. TFs of nuclear factor of κ light polypeptide gene enhancer in B‑cells 1 (NF‑κB1) and v‑myc avian myelocytomatosis viral oncogene homolog (MYC) regulated 4 and 3 DEMs, respectively. In the miRNA‑target gene regulatory network, hsa‑miR‑1, hsa‑miR‑9‑5p, hsa‑miR‑96‑5p and hsa‑miR‑590‑5p were most upregulated. The target genes of these 4 miRNAs were primarily enriched in the mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway. Therefore, MAPK signaling pathway may serve important roles in MTC progression. In conclusion, the DEMs hsa‑miR‑1 and hsa‑miR‑9‑5p, and TFs of NF‑κB1 and MYC may be used as biomarkers for the diagnosis and treatment of MTC.

An integrated method for the identification of novel genes related to oral cancer

Cancer is a significant public health problem worldwide. Complete identification of genes related to one type of cancer facilitates earlier diagnosis and effective treatments. In this study, two widely used algorithms, the random walk with restart algorithm and the shortest path algorithm, were adopted to construct two parameterized computational methods, namely, an RWR-based method and an SP-based method; based on these methods, an integrated method was constructed for identifying novel disease genes. To validate the utility of the integrated method, data for oral cancer were used, on which the RWR-based and SP-based methods were trained, thereby building two optimal methods. The integrated method combining these optimal methods was further adopted to identify the novel genes of oral cancer. As a result, 85 novel genes were inferred, among which eleven genes (e.g., MYD88, FGFR2, NF-κBIA) were identified by both the RWR-based and SP-based methods, 70 genes (e.g., BMP4, IFNG, KITLG) were discovered only by the RWR-based method and four genes (L1R1, MCM6, NOG and CXCR3) were predicted only by the SP-based method. Extensive analyses indicate that several novel genes have strong associations with cancers, indicating the effectiveness of the integrated method for identifying disease genes.

NFKB1 -94insertion/deletion ATTG polymorphism and cancer risk: Evidence from 50 case-control studies

Nuclear factor-kappa B1 (NF-κB1) is a pleiotropic transcription factor and key contributor to tumorigenesis in many types of cancer. Numerous studies have addressed the association of a functional insertion (I)/deletion (D) polymorphism (-94ins/delATTG, rs28362491) in the promoter region of NFKB1 gene with the risk of various types of cancer; however, their conclusions have been inconsistent. We therefore conducted a meta-analysis to reevaluate this association. PubMed, EMBASE, China National Knowledge infrastructure (CNKI), and WANFANG databases were searched through July 2016 to retrieve relevant studies. After careful assessment, 50 case-control studies, comprising 18,299 cases and 23,484 controls were selected. Crude odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to determine the strength of the association. The NFKB1 -94ins/delATTG polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of overall cancer in the homozygote model (DD vs. II): OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.64-0.87); heterozygote model (ID vs. II): OR = 0.91, 95% CI = 0.83-0.99; recessive model (DD vs. ID/II): OR = 0.81, 95% CI = 0.71-0.91; dominant model (ID/DD vs. II): OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.78-0.95; and allele contrast model (D vs. I): OR = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.81-0.95). Subgroup and stratified analyses revealed decreased risks for lung cancer, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and oral squamous cell carcinoma, and this association held true also for Asians (especially Chinese subjects) in hospital-based studies, and in studies with quality scores less than nine. Well-designed, large-scale case-control studies are needed to confirm these results.

Genetic polymorphisms of IL-18 rs1946518 and IL-1β rs16944 are associated with prognosis and survival of acute myeloid leukemia

BACKGROUND

Though the pathogenesis of AML is still unknown, accumulating evidence revealed that immune response plays a vital part in it. NLRP3 inflammasome as a component of immune system has been found related to several cancers. The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of NLRP3 inflammasome genes may be related to pathogenesis and prognosis of AML.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We determined polymorphisms of NLRP3 (rs35829419), CARD8 (rs2043211), IL-1β (rs16944), IL-18 (rs1946518) and NF-κB -94 ins/del ATTG in de novo AML patients to find out whether they play roles in the susceptibility and severity of AML. In our study, 383 AML cases and 300 randomly selected healthy individuals were examined for the polymorphisms and expression of NLRP3 genes. IL-1β (rs16944) polymorphism in different risk AML subgroups was found statistically different, with more GA genotype in favorable-risk cytogenetics group. We also demonstrated that the bone marrow blasts of patients carrying IL-18 (rs1946518) GG or GT genotype were higher than patients of TT genotype. IL-18 plasma level of patients with IL-18 (rs1946518) GT or TT genotype was higher than GG genotype. Moreover, the GT genotype of IL-18 (rs1946518) led to statistically poorer AML-specific survival.

CONCLUSION

IL-1β (rs16944) and IL-18 (rs1946518) may be served as potential predictors for AML.

Genetic association between NFKB1 -94 ins/del ATTG Promoter Polymorphism and cancer risk: a meta-analysis of 42 case-control studies

Accumulating evidences have indicated that the functional -94 ins/del ATTG polymorphism in the promoter region of human nuclear factor-kappa B1 (NFKB1) gene may be associated with cancer risk. However, some studies yielded conflicting results. To clarify precise association, we performed a comprehensive meta-analysis of 42 case-control studies involving 43,000 subjects (18,222 cases and 24,778 controls). The overall results suggested that the -94 ins/del ATTG polymorphism had a decreased risk for cancer, reaching significant levels in five genetic models (dominant model: OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.79–0.95, P = 0.002; recessive model: OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.74–0.94, P = 0.003; homozygous model: OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.66–0.90, P = 0.001; heterozygous model: OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.83–0.98, P = 0.011; allelic model: OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.83–0.96, P = 0.002). Furthermore, the -94 ins/del ATTG polymorphism could confer a decreased or increased risk for cancer development among Asians and Caucasians, respectively. Additionally, the stratification analysis revealed a significant association between the variant and decreased risk of oral, ovarian, and nasopharyngeal cancer in Asians. After we adjusted p values using the Benjamini-Hochberg false discovery rate method to account for multiple comparisons, these associations remained.

The dark matter of the cancer genome: aberrations in regulatory elements, untranslated regions, splice sites, non-coding RNA and synonymous mutations

Cancer is a disease of the genome caused by oncogene activation and tumor suppressor gene inhibition. Deep sequencing studies including large consortia such as TCGA and ICGC identified numerous tumor‐specific mutations not only in protein‐coding sequences but also in non‐coding sequences. Although 98% of the genome is not translated into proteins, most studies have neglected the information hidden in this “dark matter” of the genome. Malignancy‐driving mutations can occur in all genetic elements outside the coding region, namely in enhancer, silencer, insulator, and promoter as well as in 5′‐UTR and 3′‐UTR. Intron or splice site mutations can alter the splicing pattern. Moreover, cancer genomes contain mutations within non‐coding RNA, such as microRNA, lncRNA, and lincRNA. A synonymous mutation changes the coding region in the DNA and RNA but not the protein sequence. Importantly, oncogenes such as TERT or miR‐21 as well as tumor suppressor genes such as TP53/p53,APC,BRCA1, or RB1 can be affected by these alterations. In summary, coding‐independent mutations can affect gene regulation from transcription, splicing, mRNA stability to translation, and hence, this largely neglected area needs functional studies to elucidate the mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis. This review will focus on the important role and novel mechanisms of these non‐coding or allegedly silent mutations in tumorigenesis.

Genetic Variations in Inflammatory Response Genes and Their Association with the Risk of Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a common cancer in men. Genetic variations in inflammatory response genes can potentially influence the risk of prostate cancer. We aimed to examine the association between PPARG Pro12Ala, NFKB1 -94 ins/del, NFKBIA -826C/T, COX-1 (50C>T), and COX-2 (-1195G>A) polymorphisms on prostate cancer risk. The genotypes of the polymorphisms were ascertained in 543 prostate cancer patients and 753 controls through PCR-RFLP and the risk association was evaluated statistically using logistic regression analysis. The NFKB1 -94 polymorphism was shown to decrease prostate cancer risk in both heterozygous and homozygous comparison models (odds ratios of 0.74 (95% CI = 0.58-0.96) (P = 0.02) and 0.57 (95% CI = 0.42-0.78) (P < 0.01), resp.). An opposite finding was observed for COX-2 (-1195) polymorphism (odds ratios of 1.58 (95% CI = 1.15-2.18) (P < 0.01) for heterozygous comparison model and 2.08 (95% CI = 1.48-2.92) (P < 0.01) for homozygous comparison model). No association was observed for other polymorphisms. In conclusion, NFKB1 -94 ins/del and COX-2 (-1195G>A) polymorphisms may be, respectively, associated with decreased and increased prostate cancer risk in the Chinese population.

Common Polymorphisms in the NFKBIA Gene and Cancer Susceptibility: A Meta-Analysis

Background

NFKBIA encodes the inhibitors of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), which regulate the translation of the genes involved in the inflammatory and immune reactions. Polymorphisms (rs2233406, rs3138053, and rs696) of NFKBIA have been implicated in susceptibility to many cancer types.

Material/Methods

To evaluate the association between polymorphisms of NFKBIA and cancer susceptibility, a meta-analysis including a total of 7182 cancer cases and 10 057 controls from 28 case-control studies was performed. Data were extracted and pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

Results

Combined data demonstrated that rs3138053 polymorphism of NFKBIA was associated with cancer susceptibility in an allelic model (C vs. T: OR=10.754, 95%CI=4.175–27.697, P_{heterogeneity}=0.000), while the polymorphism of rs696 appeared to play a protective role in tumorigenesis (CC+CT vs. TT: OR=0.879, 95%CI=0.787–0.982, P_{heterogeneity}=0.107). When stratification analysis was performed by cancer type, an increased association of rs3138053 was recognized in hepatocarcinoma (C vs. T: OR=42.180, 95%CI=27.970–63.612, P_{heterogeneity}=0.007), while a decreased association of rs696 was identified in Hodgkin lymphoma (C vs. T: OR=0.792, 95%CI=0.656–0.956, P_{heterogeneity}=0.116; CC vs. TT: OR=0.658, 95%CI=0.448–0.965, P_{heterogeneity}=0.076; CC vs. CT+TT: OR=0.734, 95%CI=0.562–0.958, P_{heterogeneity}=0.347). By ethnicity, rs696 appears to be a protective candidate among Caucasians (CT vs. TT: OR=0.809, 95%CI=0.676–0.969, P_{heterogeneity}=0.459).

Conclusions

Our data demonstrated that the rs3138053 polymorphism of NFKBIA gene is a candidate for susceptibility to overall cancers, while rs696 plays a protective role.

Association between NF-κBI and NF-κBIA polymorphisms and coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the leading cause of fatalities worldwide. Nuclear factor (NF)-κB is a transcription factor that controls cell proliferation, differentiation and immunity. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first investigation of the association between CAD and NF-κB1 -94 W/D/NF-κBIA 3'-untranslated region (3'-UTR) A→G polymorphisms. The study population comprised 226 CAD patients and 201 controls. There was no significant difference in NF-κB1A 3'-UTR A→G in the allele and genotype frequencies between case and control populations. The D allele frequency of NF-κB1 -94 in the case group was significantly higher compared to the control group (P=0.028, odds ratio=1.37). The genotype frequency of NF-κB1 -94 DD in the case group was significantly higher compared to the controls (P=0.028). Linkage analysis showed a close linkage among these 2 genes (P<0.001 for case and control), and AD and GD haplotypes were associated with CAD (P<0.001; P=0.015, respectively). NF-κB1 -94 DD genotype can be a significant risk factor for the development of CAD.

Polymorphisms of NFκB1 and IκBα and Their Synergistic Effect on Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Susceptibility

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a multifactoral and polygenic disease with high prevalence in Southeast Asia and Southern China. Environmental factors and genetic susceptibility play important roles in NPC pathogenesis. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB) and its inhibitor (IκBα) conferred consistent risks for NPC. Four putatively functional SNPs (NFκB1: rs28362491del>ins ATTG; NFκB2: rs12769316G>A; IκBα: rs2233406C>T and rs696G>A) were analyzed to evaluate their associations with NPC risk in total 1590 NPC cases and 1979 cancer-free controls. We found that the rs28362491 insATTG variants (ins/del + ins/ins) in NFκB1 conferred an increased risk of NPC (odds ratio [OR] = 1.30, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.09–1.55, and P = 2.80 × 10⁻³) compared with the del/del homozygous genotype. The rs696AA variant in IκBα had an increased risk of NPC (OR = 1.41, 95% CI = 1.20–1.66, and P = 2.28 × 10⁻⁵) by decreasing IκBα expression due to the modulation of microRNA hsa-miR-449a. Furthermore, both adverse genotypes of NFκB/IκBα and their interaction also exerted an increased risk on NPC. Taken together, Our findings indicated that genetic variants in NFκB1 (rs28362491del>ins ATTG) and IκBα (rs696G>A) and their synergistic effect might contribute to NPC predisposition.

Polymorphisms in NFKB1 and NFKBIA Genes Modulate the Risk of Developing Prostate Cancer among Han Chinese

Background

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway proteins play an important role in modulating inflammation and other carcinogenic processes. Polymorphisms within NF-κB pathway genes may influence cancer risk. This study aimed to examine the association between NFKB19-4 ATTG ins→del, NFKBIA 3′ UTR A→G, -826CT and -881AG polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk among Chinese.

Material/Methods

The polymorphisms were genotyped via PCR-RFLP technique on 936 prostate cancer patients and 936 population-based healthy controls. Logistic regression model was used to measure the risk association present.

Results

With the exception of NFKBIA 3′ UTR polymorphism, the heterozygous and mutant genotypes of the other polymorphisms were significantly associated with prostate cancer risk. For NFKB1 polymorphism, a decreased risk was observed, with adjusted OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.44, 0.98; P=0.01 (heterozygous) and adjusted OR: 0.60; 95% CI: 0.37, 0.91; P=0.02 (mutant). NFKBIA -826CT and -881AG polymorphisms were in complete linkage disequilibrium and shared the same risk association, with adjusted OR: 1.34; 95% CI: 1.09, 1.62; P=0.02 (heterozygous) and adjusted OR: 2.83; 95% CI: 1.79, 4.50; P=0.01 (mutants). Interestingly, the impact of the NFKB1 polymorphism was not present in nonsmokers and younger (<60 years) subjects (P<0.05).

Conclusions

In conclusion, polymorphisms in NFKB1 and NFKBIA genes may modulate the risk of developing prostate cancer among Chinese.

Exogenous hydrogen sulfide exerts proliferation/anti-apoptosis/angiogenesis/migration effects via amplifying the activation of NF-κB pathway in PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) takes part in a diverse range of intracellular pathways and hss physical and pathological properties in vitro and in vivo. However, the effects of H2S on cancer are controversial and remain unclear. The present study investigates the effects of H2S on liver cancer progression via activating NF-κB pathway in PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells. PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells were pretreated with 500 µmol/l NaHS (a donor of H2S) for 24 h. The expression levels of CSE, CBS, phosphosphorylate (p)-NF-κB p65, caspase-3, COX-2, p-IκB and MMP-2 were measured by western blot assay. Cell viability was detected by cell counter kit 8 (CCK-8). Apoptotic cells were observed by Hoechst 33258 staining assay. The production level of H2S in cell culture medium was measured by using the sulfur-sensitive electrode method. The production of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results showed that the production of H2S was dramatically increased in the PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells, compared with human LO2 hepatocyte cells group, along with the overexpression levels of CSE and CBS. Treatment of PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells with 500 µmol/l NaHS (a donor of H2S) for 24 h markedly increased the expression levels of CSE, CBS, p-IκB and NF-κB activation, leading to COX-2 and MMP-2 overexpression, and decreased caspase-3 production, as well as increased cell viability and decreased number of apoptotic cells. Otherwise, the production level of H2S and VEGF were also significantly increased. Furthermore, co-treatment of PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells with 500 µmol/l NaHS and 200 µmol/l PDTC for 24 h significantly overturned these indexes. The findings of the present study provide evidence that the NF-κB is involved in the NaHS-induced cell proliferation, anti-apoptisis, angiogenesis, and migration in PLC/PRF/5 hepatoma cells, and that the PDTC against the NaHS-induced effects were by inhibition of the NF-κB pathway.

A functional insertion/deletion polymorphism in the promoter region of the NFKB1 gene increases the risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma

This study aimed to assess whether an insertion/deletion polymorphic variation rs28362491 in the NFKB1 promoter region was related to the risk of papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC). Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral venous blood of 352 patients with PTC and 459 controls. The NFKB1 rs28362491 polymorphism was genotyped by using a polymerase chain reaction assay. We found that the frequency of the heterozygous genotype ATTG1/ATTG2 was significantly higher in the cases compared to the controls (odds ratios [OR]=1.44, 95% confidence intervals [CI]=1.05-1.96, p=0.02). Moreover, the frequency of ATTG1/ATTG2+ATTG1/ATTG1 genotypes was significantly elevated in the cases compared to the controls (OR=1.38, 95% CI=1.03-1.85, p=0.03). These findings suggest that the -94 insertion/deletion ATTG polymorphism in the NFKB1 promoter might be associated with an increased risk of PTC.

Association between the NFKB1-94ins/del ATTG polymorphism and cancer risk: an updated meta-analysis

To assess the effect of the NFKB1 -94ins/del polymorphism on cancer, we conducted a meta-analysis based on 25 studies including 8,750 cases and 9,170 controls. Overall, the -94ins/del polymorphism was associated with cancer risk in the pooled analysis and in Asian population, whereas no association was observed in Caucasian population. Stratified analysis by subtypes of cancer showed that the -94ins/del polymorphism was associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma and ovarian cancer risk, but had no association with colorectal cancer, bladder cancer, and renal cell cancer. Our meta-analysis suggests the NFKB1 -94ins/del polymorphism affects cancer susceptibility, and the association is ethnic-specific.

Association between NFKB1 -94ins/del ATTG Promoter Polymorphism and Cancer Susceptibility: An Updated Meta-Analysis

Nuclear factor-κB is associated with the pathogenesis of numerous malignancies, and the functional polymorphism −94ins/del ATTG (rs28362491) in the human NFKB1 gene is associated with cancer risk. Previous studies on the association between the −94ins/del ATTG polymorphism and cancer risk reported conflicting results. To clarify this relationship, we performed a meta-analysis of 21 case-control studies involving 6127 cases and 9238 controls. We used pooled odds ratios (ORs) with their 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) to assess the association. We found that the NFKB1 promoter −94ins/del ATTG polymorphism was significantly associated with cancer risk in four genetic models (ins/ins versus del/del, OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.11–1.93; dominant model, OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.03–1.53; recessive model, OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.05–1.51; ins allele versus del allele, OR = 1.19, 95% CI = 1.05–1.35). Stratified analyses revealed a significant association between the polymorphism and ovarian, oral, and prostate cancers. Similar results were determined in an Asian population and not in a Caucasian population. Thus, our results suggested that the polymorphism can contribute to cancer risk. Moreover, the polymorphism can exert race- and cancer-specific effects on cancer risk. Further large-scale and functional studies are necessary to elucidate this possible effect.

Genetic polymorphism of NFKB1 and NFKBIA genes and liver cancer risk: a nested case-control study in Shanghai, China

OBJECTIVES

Genetic variations of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signalling pathway were found to be associated with inflammatory diseases and several malignancies. However, little is known about NF-κB pathway gene polymorphisms and susceptibility of liver cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate whether genetic variants of NFKB1 and NFKBIA were associated with risk of liver cancer in a Chinese population.

DESIGN

The study was designed as a nested case-control study within two prospective cohorts (the Shanghai Women's Health Study, SWHS, 1996-2000 and the Shanghai Men's Health Study, SMHS, 2002-2006).

SETTINGS

This population-based study was conducted in urban Shanghai, China.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 217 incident liver cancer cases diagnosed through 31 December 2009 and 427 healthy controls matched by sex, age at baseline (±2 years) and date (±30 days) of sample collection were included in the study.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Genetic polymorphisms of NFKB1 and NFKBIA were determined blindly by TaqMan single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping assay. OR and its 95% CIs were estimated by an unconditional logistic regression model to measure the association between selected SNPs and the risk of liver cancer.

RESULTS

After adjusted for potential confounding factors, rs28362491 ins/del or del/del genotypes were associated with higher risk of liver cancer with an adjusted OR 1.54 (95% CI 1.04 to 2.28). rs230496 AG and GG genotypes were also noted with higher risk of liver cancer with an adjusted OR 1.53 (95% CI 1.03 to 2.26). Haplotype analysis indicated that carriers of the NFKB1 GA and AA (rs230525-rs230530) haplotypes had higher risk of liver cancer under an additive model. No association was observed between NFKBIA variants and risk of live cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that genetic variants of NFKB1 influence liver cancer susceptibility in Chinese population, although replication in other studies is needed.

NFKB1 -94 insertion/deletion polymorphism and cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Previous studies on the associations of the NFKB1 -94 insertion/deletion polymorphism with cancer risk have produced conflicting results. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to define the effect of the NFKB1 -94 insertion/deletion polymorphism on cancer risk. A search of the literature by PubMed was performed to identify studies based on the predetermined inclusion criteria. Twenty-three studies consisting of 6,494 cases and 9,884 controls were identified and analyzed. Overall, significant association was observed between the polymorphism and cancer risk under all genetic models. Subgroup analysis according to ethnicity and cancer type also detected significant association. The NFKB1 -94 insertion/deletion polymorphism was associated with cancer risk in Asian population (dominant model: OR=1.52, 95 % CI=1.17-1.98; recessive model: OR=1.50, 95 % CI=1.26-1.79; II vs. DD: OR=1.90, 95 % CI=1.37-2.65; ID vs. DD: OR=1.32, 95 % CI=1.05-1.66; I vs. D: OR=1.37, 95 % CI=1.17-1.60), but not in Caucasian population. In addition, significant associations in OC, HCC, and OSCC were observed, but significant associations were not found in BC and LC. The current meta-analysis suggested that NFKB1 -94 insertion/deletion polymorphism may influence cancer risk in Asian population.

Association of common polymorphisms in TNFA, NFkB1 and NFKBIA with risk and prognosis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background

Tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and nuclear factor of kappa light chain gene enhancer in activated B cells (NF-κB) play critical role in carcinogenesis processes like tumour initiation, proliferation, migration and invasion. Single nucleotide polymorphisms in TNF-α, NF-κB and its inhibitor IκB genes were shown to be associated with susceptibility and prognosis of several cancers; however, their role in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is not well recognised. Therefore, in present study, we aimed to investigate association of common polymorphisms in TNFA, NFkB1 and NFKBIA with risk and prognosis of ESCC in northern Indian population.

Methods

We genotyped 290 ESCC patients (including 162 followed up cases) and 311 mean age, gender and ethnicity matched controls for TNFA -308G>A, NFkB1 -94ATTG ins/del and NFKBIA (-826C>T and 3’UTRA>G) polymorphisms using PCR alone or followed by RFLP and TaqMan assay.

Results

TNFA-308GA genotype was associated with increased risk of ESCC specifically in females and in patients with regional lymph node involvement, while, NFKBIA -826CT+TT genotype conferred decreased risk of ESCC in females. Haplotypes of NFKBIA -826C>T and 3’UTRA>G polymorphisms, C_-826G₃’_UTR and T_-826A₃’_UTR, were associated with reduced risk of ESCC. No independent role of NFkB1 -94ATTG ins/del polymorphism in susceptibility of ESCC was found. Multi-dimensionality reduction analysis showed three factor model TNFA-308, NFKBIA-826, NFKBIA 3’UTR as better predictor for risk of ESCC. Furthermore, combined risk genotype analysis of all studied polymorphisms showed increased risk of ESCC in patients with 1-3 risk genotype compared to ‘0’ risk genotype. Survival analysis did not show any significant prognostic effect of studied polymorphisms. However, in stepwise multivariate analysis, metastasis was found to be independent prognostic predictor of ESCC patients.

Conclusion

TNFA-308 and NFKBIA (-826C>T and 3’UTRA>G) polymorphisms may play role in susceptibility but not in prognosis of ESCC patients in northern Indian population.

Functional promoter -94 ins/del ATTG polymorphism in NFKB1 gene is associated with bladder cancer risk in a Chinese population

Background

A functional -94 insertion/deletion polymorphism (rs28362491) in the promoter of the NFKB1 gene was reported to influence NFKB1 expression and confer susceptibility to different types of cancer. This study aims to determine whether the polymorphism is associated with risk of bladder cancer.

Materials and methods

TaqMan assay was used to determine genotype among 609 cases and 640 controls in a Chinese population. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between the polymorphism and bladder cancer risk, and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to determine NFKB1 mRNA expression.

Results

Compared with the ins/ins/ins/del genotypes, the del/del genotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of bladder cancer [adjusted odd ratio (OR)  = 1.92, 95% confidence interval (CI)  = 1.42–2.59]. The increased risk was more prominent among subjects over 65 years old (OR  = 2.37, 95% CI  = 1.52–3.70), male subjects (OR  = 1.97, 95% CI = 1.40–2.79) and subjects with self-reported family history of cancer (OR  = 3.59, 95% CI  = 1.19–10.9). Furthermore, the polymorphism was associated with a higher risk of developing non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (OR  = 2.07, 95% CI  = 1.51–2.85), grade 1 bladder cancer (OR  = 2.40, 95% CI  = 1.68–3.43), single tumor bladder cancer (OR  = 2.04, 95% CI  = 1.48–2.82) and smaller tumor size bladder cancer (OR  = 2.10, 95% CI  = 1.51–2.92). The expression of NFKB1 mRNA in bladder cancer tissues with homozygous insertion genotype was higher than that with deletion allele.

Conclusions

In conclusion, the -94 ins/del ATTG polymorphism in NFKB1 promoter may contribute to the etiology of bladder cancer in the Chinese population.

Polymorphisms in genes related to inflammation, NSAID use, and the risk of prostate cancer among Danish men

The etiology of prostate cancer (PC) remains mostly unknown, but increasing evidence suggests that chronic inflammation in the prostate is associated with an increased risk of PC. Epidemiological studies have suggested that use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may protect against PC. Inborn variations in genes involved in the inflammatory response may modulate the risk of PC and interact with NSAIDs. The aims of this study were 1) to evaluate whether polymorphisms and haplotypes of the inflammation-related genes COX-2, Il1B, NFKB1, and PPARG are associated with risk of PC; 2) to investigate gene-environment interactions between polymorphisms and NSAID use; and 3) to examine whether the studied polymorphisms were associated with the aggressiveness of PC. The study population consisted of 370 cases of PC and 370 risk-set matched (age) controls nested within the prospective Danish "Diet, Cancer, and Health" cohort. Carriers of the variant deletion allele of NFKB1 -94ins/delATTG had a tendency toward a reduced risk of PC (incidence rate ratio (IRR), 0.73; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.52-1.04). A lowered risk for PC was also found for carriers of variant allele NFKB1 -94ins/delATTG among non-users of NSAIDs (IRR 0.68; 95% CI 0.47-0.99), for non-aggressive disease (IRR 0.64; 95% CI 0.42-0.99), and among men with a body mass index above 30 kg/m(2) (IRR 0.56; 95% CI 0.27-1.16), although the latter estimate was based on small numbers. A similar pattern was seen for the variant C allele of the COX-2 +8473T→C polymorphism. No apparent association with PC was observed for the other studied polymorphisms. Our study did not indicate that chronic inflammation is a major risk factor for aggressive PC.

The functional -94 insertion/deletion ATTG polymorphism in the promoter region of NFKB1 gene increases the risk of sporadic colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the allele and genotype frequencies of NFKB1 -94 ins/del ATTG (rs28720239) polymorphism and to evaluate the association between the polymorphism and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk in Malaysian population.

METHODS

Genomic DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood samples of 474 study subjects, which consisted of 237 histopathologically confirmed CRC patients and an equal number of cancer-free controls. The NFKB1 -94 ins/del ATTG (rs28720239) polymorphism was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method and confirmed by DNA sequencing. The association between the polymorphic genotypes and CRC risk was evaluated by deriving odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using unconditional logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

The frequencies of wildtype (del/del), heterozygous (del/ins) and variant (ins/ins) genotypes in CRC patients were 31.7%, 53.6% and 14.8%, respectively, while those in cancer-free controls were 35.0%, 58.2% and 6.8%, respectively. The frequency of the variant genotype was significantly higher in cases compared to controls (P<0.01). Evaluation of the risk association of the polymorphic genotypes revealed that the variant genotype could contribute to a significantly increased risk of CRC (OR=2.42, 95% CI=1.24-4.73, P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

The variant allele of NFKB1 -94 ins/del ATTG (rs28362491) polymorphism is associated with higher risk of sporadic CRC in Malaysian population.

Effects of NFKB1 and NFKBIA gene polymorphisms on hepatocellular carcinoma susceptibility and clinicopathological features

BACKGROUND

Constitutive activation of nuclear factor (NF)-κB is frequently observed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The current study examined associations of polymorphisms within promoter regions of NFKB1 encoding NF-κB1 and NFKBIA encoding IκBα with the susceptibility of developing HCC and clinicopathological characteristics of the tumors.

METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Genetic polymorphisms of NFKB1 and NFKBIA were analyzed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 135 HCC patients and 520 healthy controls. The genotypic frequency of the NFKB1 -94 Ins polymorphism in HCC patients was significantly higher than that of the controls (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.23; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.32∼3.77). No statistical significance was observed for the distribution frequency of the NFKBIA --519 C/T, -826 C/T, or -881 A/G genotype and haplotype polymorphisms between HCC patients and controls. Furthermore, female HCC patients carrying the NFKB1 -94 Ins polymorphism were associated with lower clinical stages and smaller tumor sizes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that the NFKB1 -94 Ins promoter polymorphism increased the risk of HCC, and may be applied as a predictive factor for the clinical stage and tumor size in female HCC patients.

Functional polymorphisms in NFκB1/IκBα predict risks of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer in Chinese

Lung inflammation is the major pathogenetic feature for both chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer. The nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB) and its inhibitor (IκB) play crucial roles in inflammatory. Here, we tested the hypothesis that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in NFκB/IκB confer consistent risks for COPD and lung cancer. Four putative functional SNPs (NFκB1: -94del>insATTG; NFκB2: -2966G>A; IκBα: -826C>T, 2758G>A) were analyzed in southern and validated in eastern Chineses to test their associations with COPD risk in 1,511 COPD patients and 1,677 normal lung function controls, as well as lung cancer risk in 1,559 lung cancer cases and 1,679 cancer-free controls. We found that the -94ins ATTG variants (ins/del + ins/ins) in NFκB1 conferred an increased risk of COPD (OR 1.27, 95% CI 1.06-1.52) and promoted COPD progression by accelerating annual FEV1 decline (P = 0.015). The 2758AA variant in IκBα had an increased risk of lung cancer (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.30-1.80) by decreasing IκBα expression due to the modulation of microRNA hsa-miR-449a but not hsa-miR-34b. Furthermore, both adverse genotypes exerted effect on increasing lung cancer risk in individuals with pre-existing COPD, while the -94del>insATTG did not in those without pre-existing COPD. However, no significant association with COPD or lung cancer was observed for -2966G>A and -826C>T. Our data suggested a common susceptible mechanism of inflammation in lung induced by genetic variants in NFκB1 (-94del>ins ATTG) or IκBα (2758G>A) to predict risk of COPD or lung cancer.

A functional insertion/deletion polymorphism (-94 ins/del ATTG) in the promoter region of the NFKB1 gene is related to the risk of renal cell carcinoma

OBJECTIVE

Activated nuclear factor-ĸB is associated with the pathogenesis of numerous malignancies, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study aimed to clarify the influence of a common insertion/deletion polymorphism (-94 ins/del ATTG, rs28362491) in the NFKB1 promoter on RCC susceptibility.

METHODS

We genotyped the NFKB1 -94 ins/del ATTG promoter polymorphism by the TaqMan method and assessed the association with RCC risk, clinicopathological parameters in a case-control study of 1,027 cases and 1,094 controls.

RESULTS

The genotype frequencies were significantly different between RCC cases and controls (p = 0.046). Compared with individuals carrying the ins/del + del/del genotypes, those with the ins/ins genotype had an increased RCC risk [p = 0.036, adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.02-1.48], particularly in the subgroup of younger age (p = 0.005, adjusted OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.11-1.83) and never smokers (p = 0.013, adjusted OR = 1.34, 95% CI = 1.07-1.69). Furthermore, the polymorphism was significantly associated with the risk of developing localized stage RCC (p = 0.020, OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.04-1.53).

CONCLUSIONS

The functional NFKB1 promoter polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of RCC.

Effects of NFKB1 and NFKBIA gene polymorphisms on susceptibility to environmental factors and the clinicopathologic development of oral cancer

BACKGROUND

Oral cancer, which is the fourth most common cancer in Taiwanese men, is associated with environmental carcinogens. The possibility that genetic predisposition in nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-signaling pathways activation is linked to the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) requires investigation. The current study examines associations between polymorphisms within promoter regions of NFKB1 encoding NF-κB1 and NFKBIA encoding IkappaBalpha (IκBα) with both the susceptibility to develop OSCC and the clinicopathological characteristics of the tumors.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

Genetic polymorphisms of NFKB1 and NFKBIA were analyzed by a real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) for 462 patients with oral cancer and 520 non-cancer controls. We found that NFKB1 -94 ATGG1/ATGG2, -94 ATGG2/ATGG2, and the combination of -94 ATGG1/ATGG2 and ATGG2/ATGG2 genotypes NFKBIA -826 T (CT+TT) and -881 G (AG+GG) allelic carriages, were more prevalent in OSCC patients than in non-cancer participants. Moreover, we found that NFKB1 or NFKBIA gene polymorphisms seem to be related to susceptibility to develop oral cancer linked to betel nut and tobacco consumption. Finally, patients with oral cancer who had at least one -519 T allele of the NFKBIA gene were at higher risk for developing distant metastasis (P<.05), compared with those patients CC homozygotes.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that NFKB1 -94 ATTG2, NFKBIA -826 T, and -881 G alleles are associated with oral carcinogenesis. The combination of NFKB1 or NFKBIA gene polymorphisms and environmental carcinogens appears related to an increased risk of oral cancer. More importantly, the genetic polymorphism of NFKBIA -519 might be a predictive factor for the distal metastasis of OSCC in Taiwanese.

Gene expression correlation analysis predicts involvement of high- and low-confidence risk genes in different stages of prostate carcinogenesis

BACKGROUND

Whole genome association studies have identified many loci associated with the risk of prostate cancer (PC). However, very few of the genes associated with these loci have been related to specific processes of prostate carcinogenesis. Therefore I inferred biological functions associated with these risk genes using gene expression correlation analysis.

METHODS

PC risk genes reported in the literature were classified as having high (P<10(-6)), medium (P<10(-4)), or low (P<10(-2)) statistical confidence. Correlation coefficients of the expression levels between the risk genes and other genes in cancerous prostates samples were compared against those in normal prostates using a microarray dataset from Gene Expression Omnibus.

RESULTS

Overall, significant decrease of correlations in PC was observed between the levels of expression of the high-confidence genes and other genes in the microarray dataset, whereas correlation between low-confidence genes and other genes in PC showed smaller decrease. Genes involved in developmental processes were significantly correlated with all risk gene categories. Ectoderm development genes, which may be related to squamous metaplasia, and genes enriched in fetal prostate stem cells (PSCs) showed strong association with the high-confidence genes. The association between the PSC genes and the low-confidence genes was weak, but genes related to neural system genes showed strong association with low-confidence genes.

CONCLUSIONS

The high-confidence risk genes may be associated with an early stage of prostate carcinogenesis, possibly involving PSCs and squamous metaplasia. The low-confidence genes may be involved in a later stage of carcinogenesis.

Association between polymorphisms of TP53 and MDM2 and prostate cancer risk in southern Chinese

Alterations in the TP53 and MDM2 genes appear to be important in the development of many human tumors, but evidence is conflicting on associations between polymorphisms in these genes and risk of prostate cancer (PCa). The influence of TP53 codon 72, MDM2 SNP309, and MDM2 C1797G polymorphisms in southern Chinese PCa patients was investigated. In the comparison of genotype distributions of TP53 codon 72 between cases and controls, the adjusted odds ratios for PCa associated with the Pro/Pro, Arg/Pro, and Arg/Arg genotypes were 1.00, 1.89 (95% CI = 1.20-2.97), and 2.01 (95% CI = 1.11-3.64), respectively; however, MDM2 SNP309 and C1797G did not show any significant difference between cases and controls. When TP53 and MDM2 polymorphisms were combined based on the numbers of variant risk alleles (i.e., G-allele of TP53 codon 72, G-allele of MDM2 SNP309, and G-allele of MDM2 C1797G), individuals with 3-5 variants had a 1.56-fold greater risk of PCa than those with 0-2 variants (95% CI = 1.07-2.26). Moreover, subjects with 0-2 variants had 33.3% positive p53 expression, whereas subjects with 3-5 variants had 23.3% p53 expression (P = 0.39). These findings suggest that TP53 and MDM2 polymorphisms play a role in PCa susceptibility in southern Chinese Han population.

A combination of functional polymorphisms in the CASP8, MMP1, IL10 and SEPS1 genes affects risk of non-small cell lung cancer

Exposure to tobacco smoke as well as environmental and occupational factors is the major cause of lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the major histological type. Genes in pathways affecting inflammation, cellular stress and apoptosis are important, and the extent of inflammation in the lung could be affected by polymorphisms modifying these responses. In the present study we have investigated whether a combination of potential functional polymorphisms in genes related to inflammation may modulate risk of NSCLC. Eleven functional polymorphisms in nine genes were analyzed for association with risk of NSCLC in 882 subjects from the Norwegian population. The results showed that individuals carrying combination of three functional polymorphisms in the caspase-8, matrix metalloproteinase-1, seleno-protein S1, and interleukin-10 genes had two-fold increased risk of NSCLC (OR 2.06 (95% CI, 1.19-3.47) whereas individuals with four risk genotypes had 4.62-fold increased risk (OR 4.62, 95% CI, 1.69-12.63). These results highlight the need to investigate the combinatory effects of multiple SNPs in the carcinogenesis of the lung.

IkappaBalpha gene promoter polymorphisms are associated with hepatocarcinogenesis in patients infected with hepatitis B virus genotype C

Genetic predisposition of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB)-signaling pathways linking inflammation to hepatitis B virus (HBV)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains unresolved. We conducted a case–control study to determine the associations of the polymorphisms within the promoter regions of NFKB1 encoding NF-κB1 and NFKBIA encoding IkappaBalpha with the development of HCC. A total of 404 healthy controls, 482 non-HCC subjects with HBV infection and 202 patients with HCC were included. NFKB1 −94ATTG2 allele and GG allele in the 3′-untranslated region of NFKBIA were more prevalent in HCC patients than in the healthy controls. NFKBIA −826CT and NFKBIA −881AG allelic carriages were more prevalent in HCC patients than in the non-HCC subjects with HBV infection. The estimated haplotype frequency of NFKBIA promoter −881G−826T−519C was significantly higher in the patients with HCC than in the HBV-infected subjects without HCC (odds ratio = 3.142, P = 0.002). As compared with the HBV-infected subjects without HCC, NFKBIA −826 T and NFKBIA −881AG allelic carriages were only associated with HCC risk in the subjects with HBV genotype C. The association of NFKBIA −881AG allelic carriage with HCC risk was not affected by liver cirrhosis (LC) status, alanine aminotransferase level and hepatitis B e antigen status. By multivariate regression analysis, NFKB1 −94ATTG2, NFKBIA −826T, NFKBIA −881AG and HBV genotype C were independently associated with an increased risk of HCC. In conclusion, NFKB1 −94ATTG2 allele and haplotype −881G−826T−519C in NFKBIA promoter were associated with hepatocarcinogenesis. NFKBIA −826T and −881AG were associated with the risk of HCC in the subjects infected with HBV genotype C.