The evaluation of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptor gene polymorphism in glioblastoma patients

Abstract

AIM: To assess the distribution of genetic polymorphisms of killer cell immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) to predict the clinical course of glioblastoma, report on the genetic mechanisms, and provide guidance on potential therapeutic methods. MATERIAL and METHODS: Our study included 31 adult patients who were admitted to the Department of Neurosurgery at our institution and diagnosed with glioblastoma between October 2013 and January 2014 together with 50 control subjects. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 53.5 vs. 53.9 years, respectively, and the gender distribution (male/female: 64.5/35.5% vs. 64/36%, respectively) was comparable among patients and controls (p>0.05). Sixteen different KIR genes including inhibitory, activating, and pseudogenes were investigated for each sample, and the framework genes including KIR2DL4, 3DL2, 3DL3, and 3DP1 were present in all patients and controls. In addition, the inhibitory KIR genes and the 2DL3 gene were significantly more common in patients compared to controls (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that the inhibitory KIR gene 2DL3 has a predisposition for glioblastoma. Identifying the potential link between glioblastoma cells and immune system genetics is critical in predicting familial predisposition and early diagnosis. In addition, this clue may be a key factor in developing post-surgery individual immunotherapy models in the future.