Association of the HLA-DRB1 gene locus with gastric adenocarcinoma in Japan.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIM:

Helicobacter pylori infection is associated with gastric adenocarcinoma, however, the odds ratio is relatively low. The aim of the present study was to investigate host genetic factors that increase the risk of gastric adenocarcinoma among H. pylori-infected individuals.

METHODS:

A total of 70 patients with early gastric adenocarcinoma and 121 unrelated healthy controls were examined for H. pylori infection and HLA-DRB1 genotyping. The frequencies of HLA-DRB1 alleles were compared among groups.

RESULTS:

The allele frequency of DRB1*04051 was significantly higher in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma (17.9%) than in controls (7.9%) (P(correct) = 0.045). The odds ratio of gastric adenocarcinoma associated with the presence of the HLA-DRB1*04051 allele compared with its absence was 2.55 (95% confidence limits, 1.35-4.83). This genetic risk was not associated with H. pylori infection. There was no significant difference in the HLA-DRB1 allele frequency between H. pylori-positive and H. pylori-negative controls. The frequency of genotypes that possessed the DRB1*04051 allele in gastric adenocarcinoma patients (34.3%) was significantly higher than that in H. pylori-negative controls (11.9%) (p = 0.0089) and H. pylori-positive controls (15.2%) (p = 0.0066).

CONCLUSION:

These findings suggest that immunogenetic factors for susceptibility to gastric adenocarcinoma are present in the host, the HLA-DRB1*04051 allele is a host genetic risk factor for gastric adenocarcinoma, and that this genetic risk is independent of H. pylori infection.

• Authors: M Ohtani, T Azuma, S Yamazaki, A Yamakawa, Y Ito, A Muramatsu, M Dojo, Y Yamazaki, M Kuriyama
• Journal: Digestive and liver disease : official journal of the Italian Society of Gastroenterology and the Italian Association for the Study of the Liver (Dig Liver Dis) Vol. 35 Issue 7 Pg. 468-72 (Jul 2003) ISSN: 1590-8658 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 12870731 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• HLA-DR1 Antigen

Topics

• Adenocarcinoma (genetics, immunology, microbiology)
• Case-Control Studies
• Female
• Gene Frequency
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Genotype
• HLA-DR1 Antigen (genetics)
• Helicobacter Infections (complications, genetics)
• Helicobacter pylori (genetics, immunology)
• Humans
• Japan
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Stomach Neoplasms (genetics, immunology, microbiology)