The association of TLR2 and TPA genetic polymorphisms with colorectal cancer risk

Abstract

Background/Aim: Colorectal cancer is the second most common cancer in women and the third most common in men. It is the third leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Statistics suggest a worrying increase in the incidence of this cancer in the coming years. Many factors, including family history, age, smoking habits and genetic variations, can increase susceptibility to colorectal cancer. Among these influential genetic variations, polymorphisms are of particular importance. This study aimed to investigate the influence of genetic polymorphisms, namely the 23 bp insertion/deletion polymorphism (rs111200466) within the TLR2 gene and the Alu polymorphism within the TPA gene, on the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Methods: The participants in this study consisted of 200 people who had been diagnosed with the disease and 224 healthy people who were carefully matched in terms of age and gender. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was the method of choice for identifying the genotypes of the Alu polymorphism in the TPA gene and the 23 bp insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in the TLR2 gene. Results: No significant association was found between the I/D (OR = 0.85, 95 % CI = 0.56 - 1.29, p = 0.45) and D/D (OR = 1.06, 95 % CI = 0.44 - 2.55, p = 0.88) genotypes compared to the I/I genotype of the TLR2 gene and the risk of developing colorectal cancer. Similarly, for the Alu polymorphism in the TPA gene, no significant association was found between the I/D (OR = 0.97, 95 % CI = 0.57 - 1.68, p = 0.94) and D/D (OR = 0.94, 95 % CI = 0.53 -1.67, p = 0.85) genotypes compared to the Ins/Ins genotype in relation to colorectal cancer risk. Conclusions: No statistically significant association was observed between colorectal cancer susceptibility and either the TLR2 rs111200466 polymorphism or the TPA Alu polymorphism in the Iranian population studied.