Two polymorphisms of the tumour necrosis factor gene do not influence survival in pancreatic cancer

Polymorphisms of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) gene have been related to TNF production and outcome in a variety of inflammatory and malignant dise ases. Proinflammatory cytokines and the inflammatory state appear to affect outcome in pancreatic cancer. Thus, the present study examined the TNFB an d TNF-308 polymorphisms for their relationship to the inflammatory state an d survival in pancreatic cancer. Sixty-four patients with advanced pancreat ic cancer and 101 healthy subjects were genotyped for each polymorphism. Se rum concentrations of the two TNF receptors and C-reactive protein (CRP) we re measured in 45 of the cancer patients with no evidence of infection or j aundice, 1 month after surgical intervention. There was no difference in di stribution of genotypes between the patient and control groups. There was n o association! between any genotype and concentrations of any of the measur ed inflammatory mediators. While those with an elevated CRP concentration h ad significantly poorer survival, there was no association between either T NF genotype and survival. This study found no association between TNF genot ype and the inflammatory state or survival in advanced pancreatic cancer. O ther cytokines may be more important than TNF in determining the inflammato ry state and disease progress in pancreatic cancer.