Common single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in
microRNAs (
miRNAs) have been shown to be associated with susceptibility to several types of human
cancer. We evaluated the association between three SNPs (rs11614913, rs2910164 and rs3746444) in pre-
miRNAs (miR-196a2, miR-146a and miR-499) and various clinicopathological characteristics, including CpG island hypermethylation (CIHM) status and overall survival in
gastric cancer (GC) patients. rs11614913 (T>C), rs2910164 (C>G) and rs3746444 (A>G) SNPs were genotyped in 127 GC patients. CIHM of p14, p16,
DAP-kinase and CDH1 genes was determined by methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction in the
cancer tissues. A significant marginal association was found between the rs11614913 CC genotype and polypoid or elevated type morphology in early-stage GC (OR=6.29, 95% CI 1.18-33.47, p=0.03). The rs2910164 CC and CG genotypes were associated with increased susceptibility to CIHM of
DAP-kinase (CC+CG, OR=5.48, 95% CI 1.30-23.10, p=0.02; CC, OR=6.93, 95% CI 1.37-35.02, p=0.02; CG, OR=4.24, 95% CI 0.87-20.78, p=0.07). The 11614913 TT and TC genotypes were associated with a higher number of CIHM (no. of CIHM 0-1 vs. 2-4; TT+TC, OR=3.67, 95% CI 0.98-13.72, p=0.05; TC, OR=4.08, 95% CI 1.04-15.97, p=0.04). When the subjects were divided according to age group, the combined rs11614913 TT+TC genotype tended to be associated with worse overall survival than the CC genotype in patients younger than 65 years of age (p=0.05). The combined rs2910164 CG+GG genotype also tended to be associated with worse overall survival than the CC genotype in the same age group (p=0.09). It appears that rs11614913 and rs2910164 SNPs in pre-
miRNAs (miR-196a2 and miR-146a) affect the clinicopathological characteristics of GC, including its morphological appearance, CIHM status and overall survival.