Lack of associations between TNF-α polymorphisms and cervical cancer in Thai women

Abstract

The risk of developing cervical cancer in women infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) may be influenced by an individual's genetic susceptibility. Published data linking single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) promoter region at positions-308G > A (rs1800629) and -238G > A (rs361525) to cervical cancer risk have been inconclusive. In this study, we examined 251 cervical specimens and classified them into two groups according to their cytological findings: 121 cancer cases and 130 controls (low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and normal cytology). All specimens were typed by PCR and sequencing for TNF-α promoter-308G > A (rs1800629) and -238G > A (rs361525). The genotype distribution of SNPs in either rs1800629 or rs361525 did not significantly demonstrate higher frequency in the cancer group (p=0.621 and p=0.68, respectively). Based on these results, neither the TNF-α promoter-308G > A (rs1800629) nor the -238G > A (rs361525) polymorphism presents a major risk factor for cervical cancer among Thai women. Larger studies are necessary to elucidate possible genetic mechanisms influencing cervical cancer development.