Comprehensive Analysis of 29,464 Cancer Cases and 35,858 Controls to Investigate the Effect of the Cytotoxic T-Lymphocyte Antigen 4 Gene rs231775 A/G Polymorphism on Cancer Risk

CTLA4 genetic variants associated with urothelial bladder cancer susceptibility

PURPOSE

The study evaluated the relationship between the CTLA4 rs231775 (+49A>G) and rs231779 (+1822C>T) variants and susceptibility, stage, prognosis and response to treatment of the urothelial bladder cancer (UBC).

METHODS

A total of 140 patients with UBC and 145 controls were enrolled. The patients were stratified as non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) and muscle invasive bladder cancer (MICB), metastasis, recurrence, low/moderate/high/very high risk. Demographic, anthropometric, epidemiological, and clinical data were obtained from all individuals using a structured questionnaire. The CTLA4 variants were determined using real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and the genotypes were tested in the allelic, codominant, dominant, recessive, and overdominant genetic models.

RESULTS

The UBC patients were older and mostly smokers (P < 0.001), with greater waist circumference, systolic, and diastolic arterial pressure (P = 0.005, P = 0.006, and P < 0.001, respectively) than controls. A protective effect for the UBC was observed among the patients carrying the heterozygote genotypes of the CTLA4 rs231775 [odds ratio (OR = 0.40; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.160.98, P = 0.045) and rs231779 (OR = 0.35; 95% CI: 0.14-0.87, P = 0.024). R2 Nagelkerke analysis demonstrated that a model with age and smoking added to the CTLA4 rs231775 SNVs explained 77.0% of the susceptibility to UBC and a model with age and smoking added to the CLTA4 rs231779 explained 77.2% of the susceptibility to UBC.

CONCLUSION

The CTLA4 rs231775 AG and rs231779 CT heterozygous genotypes in the overdominant model together with age and smoking may be useful as potential biomarkers for the UBC susceptibility.

Immunotherapy for colorectal cancer: insight from inherited genetics

Immunotherapy shows efficacy for multiple cancer types and potential for expanded use. However, current immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are ineffective against microsatellite-stable colorectal cancer (CRC), which is more commonly diagnosed. Immunotherapy strategies for non-responsive CRC, including new targets and new combination therapies, are being tested to address this need. Importantly, a subset of inherited germline genetic variants associated with CRC risk are predicted to regulate genes with immune functions, including genes related to existing ICIs, as well as new potential targets in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region and immunoregulatory cytokines. We review discoveries in the inherited genetics of CRC related to the immune system and draw connections with ongoing developments and emerging immunotherapy targets.

Association between the side effect induced by COVID-19 vaccines and the immune regulatory gene polymorphism

People often worry about the side effects after vaccination, reducing the willingness to vaccinate. Thus, we tried to find out the risk of single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) vaccines to improve the willingness and confidence in vaccination. Allergic and inflammatory reactions are the common vaccine side effects caused by immune system overreaction. In addition, a previous study showed significantly higher frequency of febrile reactions to measles vaccines in American Indians than in Caucasian children, indicating that the side effects varied in accordance with genetic polymorphisms in individuals. Thus, SNPs of immune regulatory genes, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4), CD28, tumor necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 4 (TNFSF4) and programmed cell death protein 1 (PDCD1) were included in this study to analyze their association with vaccine side effects. Moreover, 61 healthy participants were asked on the number of doses they received, the brand of the vaccine, and the side effects they suffered. We found that several SNPs were associated with side effects after the first or second dose of mRNA or adenoviral vector vaccines. Furthermore, these SNPs were associated with several autoimmune diseases and cancer types; thus, they played an important role in immune regulation. Moreover, rs3181096 and rs3181098 of CD28, rs733618 and rs3087243 of CTLA, and rs1234314 of TNFSF4 were associated with mild vaccine side effects induced by mRNA and adenoviral vector vaccines, which would play a potential role in vaccine-induced immune responses and may further lead to fatal side effects. These results could serve as a basis for investigating the mechanism of vaccine side effects. Furthermore, it was hoped that these results would address public concerns about the side effects of the COVID-19 vaccination. In clinical application, a rapid screening test can be performed to assess the risk of vaccine side effects before vaccination and provide immediate treatment.