Polymorphism of tumor necrosis factor in esophageal, gastric or colorectalcarcinoma

Background/Aims: Several microsatellite polymorphisms located in the tumor necrosis factor locus on the chromosomal region 6p21.3 in the major histoco mpatibility complex region have been associated with malignant neoplasms an d autoimmune diseases. In this study, we focused on the polymorphisms of tu mor necrosis factor a and d from gastrointestinal carcinoma patients to asc ertain whether they can be useful to predict these neoplasms. Methodology: We examined esophageal, gastric, and colorectal cancers (47, 5 3, 77 patients, respectively), and 213 normal controls. To compare the micr osatellite polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor a, d in Japanese individu als, dioxyribonucleic acids were extracted from normal mucosa (cancer patie nts) and from peripheral blood monocytes (the normal controls) by polymeras e chain reaction. Results: The frequency of tumor necrosis factor a3 allele was significantly higher in gastric cancer (P=0.012 and that of tumor necrosis factor d7 all ele was significantly higher in the colorectal cancer than the normal contr ols (P=0.037). That of tumor necrosis factor a10 was significantly lower in the gastric cancer than the normal controls (P=0.008). Conclusions: Microsatellite polymorphisms of tumor necrosis factor a and d might be significantly correlated with carcinogenesis of specific neoplasms , and may be useful for predicting these cancers.