Acid Phosphatase Locus 1 Genetic Polymorphism and Cancer Grading

Abstract Background Currently, there is a surge of interest on the possible relationship between cancer and acid phosphatase locus 1 (ACP 1 ), an enzyme involved in the modulation of growth factors and cellular metabolism. As far as the authors know, the possible relationship between ACP 1 genetic variability and cancer grading has not yet been considered. In this article, the authors have studied the relationship between ACP 1 genotype and grade in colon and endometrium cancers. Methods Seventy-one patients with colon cancer and 71 patients with endometrium cancer were studied. ACP 1 genotype was determined by DNA analysis. Three-way contingency table analysis was carried out according to Sokal and Rohlf. Other statistical analyses were performed using SPSS programs. Results There is a significant association between ACP 1 and cancer grade mainly due to ACP 1 genotypes carrying the *C allele that are much less represented in patients with low grade when compared with those with high grade. In both cancers, the concentration of S isoform is significantly lower in low grade than in high grade. The relationship between ACP 1 and grade is the same in the 2 cancers. Conclusions Assuming the presence of diverse classes of cancer, the role of ACP 1 in the modulation of growth factors and cellular metabolism could have significant effects in less aggressive forms but not in more aggressive ones.