Functional polymorphism of NFKB1 promoter may correlate to the susceptibility of gastric cancer in aged patients

Background Activated nuclear factor-κ B (NF-κB ) is associated reportedly with the pathogenesis of numerous malignancies. This study investigated whether a common insertion (ins)/deletion (del) polymorphism (-94 ins/del ATTG) in the NFKB1 promoter is associated with susceptibility to gastric cancer and its tumor behavior. Methods Blood samples from 182 gastric cancer patients and 116 controls were examined by polymerase chain reaction-based genotyping. Allelotype and genotype (polymorphism) of NFKB1 promoter in gastric cancer patients were analyzed with controls and patients' clinicopathologic factors to evaluate their association using a multivariate analytical model. Results The mean ages of patients and controls were 65.7 ± 12.8, and 64.9 ± 8.8 years old, respectively. Sex ratios (male to female) were 2.7:1 and 2.2:1, respectively. Insertion allelotype, genotypes with ins/ins, as well as ins allele carrier (ins/ins+ ins/del) were significantly greater in gastric cancer patients than in controls, especially in patients >65 years old, but not in younger patients. The polymorphism did not correlate with clinicopathologic factors and patient survival. Conclusion NFKB1 could be a susceptible gene for gastric cancer and its functional polymorphism in promoter is associated with the risk of gastric cancer, particularly in aged patients.