Lack of association between human leukocyte antigen-E alleles and nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Tunisians

DNA Cell Biol. 2011 Aug;30(8):603-9. doi: 10.1089/dna.2010.1140. Epub 2011 Feb 20.

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), a cancer with a remarkable geographical and worldwide ethnic distribution, has been strongly associated with human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I genes. The presence of additional HLA risk factors has been suggested by several reports. In the present study, we analyzed the implication of HLA-E gene polymorphisms in NPC susceptibility in Tunisians, a population characterized by an intermediate incidence of NPC with specific clinical features. Peripheral blood DNA was obtained from 185 patients with NPC and 177 matched controls. Genotyping for three single-nucleotide polymorphisms, codon 83Gly/Arg, codon 157Arg/Gly, and codon 107Arg/Gly, was performed using the polymerase chain reaction method. The HLA-E*01:01 and HLA-E*01:03 were the only alleles found among Tunisians. The HLA-E*01:03 allele had a slight increase in patients with NPC (43%) compared with controls (37%), but the difference did not reach a statistical significance. Our results show the lack of association between HLA-E alleles and NPC in the Tunisian population. This is not in agreement with the previous studies, suggesting a potential implication of HLA-E gene polymorphisms in the susceptibility to NPC among populations with high-risk incidence. Our study further supports the dissimilarity of NPC between populations with different NPC incidence.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alleles*
  • Black People / genetics*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Child
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • HLA Antigens / genetics*
  • HLA-E Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Tunisia / ethnology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • HLA Antigens
  • Histocompatibility Antigens Class I