Caspase 8 and caspase 9 gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to gastric cancer

Abstract

Background Caspase-8 (CASP8) and caspase-9 (CASP9) play crucial roles in regulating apoptosis, and their functional polymorphisms may alter cancer risk. Our aim was to investigate the association of CASP8 and CASP9 gene polymorphisms with gastric cancer (GC) susceptibility. Methods We undertook a case-control study of 88 GC cases and 480 controls to investigate the association between CASP8 -652 6N ins/del and CASP9 -1263 A>G polymorphisms and GC susceptibility by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Results CASP8 -652 6N ins/del polymorphism and CASP9 -1263 GG genotype were observed to be significantly associated with a reduced risk of GC. No significant association was observed between CASP8 -652 6N ins/del and CASP9 -1263 A>G polymorphisms and tumor characteristics. However, both CASP8 del/del and CASP9 -1263 GG genotypes were associated with increased overall survival in GC patients. Conclusions The CASP8 -652 6N ins/del and the CASP9 -1263 A>G polymorphisms were observed to play a protective role in GC predisposition. © The International Gastric Cancer Association and The Japanese Gastric Cancer Association 2011.