Published online Sep 14, 2019. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v25.i34.5152
Peer-review started: May 16, 2019
First decision: July 21, 2019
Revised: July 25, 2019
Accepted: August 19, 2019
Article in press: August 19, 2019
Published online: September 14, 2019
Processing time: 119 Days and 20.3 Hours
Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide, which causes a high social and economic burden. Xeroderma pigmentosum group G (XPG) or ERCC5 may play a key role in DNA repair, thus affecting cancer prognosis. Studies have shown that XPG SNPs may affect the development of cancer such as lung cancer, colorectal cancer, and breast cancer.
Only a few studies have explored the relationships between XPG gene SNPs and GC, and the results are inconsistent.
To examine GC risk and survival in relation to common functional XPG SNPs through a case-control study, which might improve our understanding of GC and provide new therapeutic targets for this malignancy.
A total of 956 histologically confirmed GC cases and 1012 controls were matched by sex, age (within 5 years), and residential district. Cases were followed and the survival time was recorded. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples of all cases and controls. XPG rs2094258, rs751402, rs2296147, rs1047768, and rs873601 polymorphisms were genotyped using PCR-RFLP. Logistic regression and Cox regression were used for analyzing associations of XPG SNPs with risk of GC and prognosis, respectively.
We found that GC patients with the rs2094258 CT + CC genotype showed a worse survival than those with the TT genotype, and patients with the CC genotype had a tendency of unfavorable prognosis compared with those with the TT + CT genotype. The increase in the number of C alleles of rs2094258 was associated with the long-term survival of GC cases. Other risk factors for survival included tumor differentiation, lymphovascular invasion, and use of chemotherapy. However, the exact mechanisms by which XPG SNPs influence GC survival remain to be solved.
The XPG rs2094258 polymorphism may be associated with overall survival in patients with GC.
If confirmed by other studies, the results of our study suggest that XPG rs2094258 polymorphisms may serve as genetic biomarkers for GC prognosis, and may provide clues to biological underpinnings of GC progression.