Purpose: Our study aimed to assess a possible correlation between NOD2 Arg702Trp (rs2066844) polymorphism and gastric cancer risk in a Romanian population.
Material/methods: A total of 322 subjects (72 patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and 250 healthy controls) were included. Genomic DNA was extracted from blood leukocytes and NOD2 Arg702Trp polymorphism was genotyped by Real-Time PCR using specific TaqMan probes.
Results: No statistically significant difference was observed between gastric cancer patients and controls when we compared one genotype with other genotype (the CC genotype serves as reference) (OR 0.45, 95% CI: 0.10 - 2.05) or when we compared allele frequencies (the C allele serves as reference) (OR 0.46, 95% CI: 0.11 - 2.04). We examined separately the association of this polymorphism with tumor site and histologic type and no correlation was found.
Conclusion: NOD2 Arg702Trp polymorphism is not associated with gastric cancer risk and further investigations are needed to elucidate the contribution of NOD2 gene in gastric carcinogenesis.
Keywords: NOD2 polymorphism; gastric cancer; gene; genotype.