The-238 tumor necrosis factor-alpha promoter polymorphism is associated with decreased susceptibility to cancers

We investigated the potential association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (T NF-alpha) promoter polymorphisms with cancers. The study included 169 patie nts with gastric cancer, uterine cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, or ren al cell carcinoma and 92 healthy controls. The -308 and -238 polymorphisms in the TNF-alpha promoter were analyzed by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). The proportion of individuals carrying the TNF-238A al lele was significantly lower in the cancer group than in the control group. The odds ratio for cancer in subjects with the TNF-238A allele was 0.25 (9 5% CI, 0.10-0.64). No association was found between the -308 polymorphism a nd cancers, These results suggest that the -238A allele has a protective fu nction against cancers. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights r eserved.