Aims: To examine the effect of the TIMP-2 G-418C polymorphism on gastric cancer risk.
Methods: We conducted a hospital-based, case-control study using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 412 individuals (206 gastric cancer patients and 206 age, sex matched cancer-free controls).
Results: The genotype and allele frequencies were significantly different (P = 0.007 and 0.005, respectively) between cases and controls. Further analysis showed that the variant TIMP-2 genotypes (CC+GC) had a 51% increased risk of gastric cancer compared with GG [adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.00-2.26, P = 0.049]. The elevated gastric cancer risk was especially evident in younger individuals (age < 58 years old) (adjusted OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.18-4.16) and smokers (adjusted OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.01-6.72). However, no significant association was observed between the variant genotypes and clinicopathological features of gastric cancer.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that the TIMP-2 G-418C polymorphism is a genetic predisposing factor for gastric cancer.