The Glypican-4 Gene Polymorphism rs1048369 and Susceptibility to Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive and -Negative Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in Northern China

Oncol Res Treat. 2019;42(11):572-579. doi: 10.1159/000502753. Epub 2019 Sep 13.

Abstract

Background: Gene polymorphism rs1048369 of glypican-4 (GPC4) gene has been reported to be significantly different between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated gastric carcinoma (GC) and EBV-negative GC. However, little is known about the polymorphism in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), which is a malignant tumor with a high prevalence of EBV.

Objective: The distribution of GPC4 polymorphism rs1048369 was investigated in NPC patients, especially in those with EBV infection. The association between the polymorphism of GPC4 and the susceptibility to EBV-positive and EBV-negative NPC was also explored.

Patients and methods: The GPC4 gene polymorphism rs1048369 was detected in 143 cases of EBV-positive NPC and in 19 cases of EBV-negative NPC using polymerase chain reaction. One hundred and seven peripheral blood samples from healthy individuals were also measured as a control group.

Results: The difference in genotype CC between EBV-positive NPC patients and healthy individuals was significant (χ2 = 15.273, p < 0.01). No significant difference was observed between EBV-positive and EBV-negative NPC cases. Between EBV-negative NPC cases and healthy individuals, there was no significant difference in GPC4 gene polymorphism in both genotypic and allelic frequencies.

Conclusions: The GPC4 gene polymorphism is associated with susceptibility to EBV-positive NPC. The CC genotype of GPC4 may represent a risk factor for NPC in Northern China.

Keywords: Epstein-Barr virus; GPC4; Gene polymorphism; Nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Alleles
  • China
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / complications*
  • Epstein-Barr Virus Infections / virology*
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Genotype
  • Glypicans / genetics*
  • Herpesvirus 4, Human*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma / etiology*
  • Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • GPC4 protein, human
  • Glypicans