Association of CDH1 -160 C → A and -347 G → GA polymorphisms and expression of E-cadherin and gastric cancer: A case-control study

Objective: The loss of function of the E-cadherin (CDH1) gene with -160 C -> A and -347 G -> GA polymorphisms is regarded as a critical step for gastric cancer. It was aimed to investigate possible association of these polymorphisms and immunoexpression of E-cadherin with gastric cancer. Material and Methods: Gastric adenocarcinoma patients and individuals with benign gastric pathologies were included in this case-control study. Demographic data and pathological findings were recorded. Immunohistochemical staining of E-cadherin expression and analysis of -160 C -> A and -347 G -> GA polymorphisms were done. Differences between allele frequencies of -160 C -> A and -347 G -> GA polymorphisms and expression of E-cadherin were the primary outcomes. Results: There were 78 gastric cancer patients (Group A) and 113 individuals with benign gastric pathologies (Group B). The number of male patients and mean age were higher in Group A (p< 0.001). -160 C -> A and 347 G -> GA polymorphisms and their allelic distributions showed no difference between the groups (p>0.05 for all). There was a significant association between -160 C -> A polymorphism and grade of E-cadherin expression (p=0.013). There were no significant differences between survival rates with -160 C -> A, 347 G -> GA and intensity of E-cadherin expression (p>0.05 for all). There was no significant association between -160 C -> A and -347 G -> GA polymorphisms and gastric cancer. Conclusion: There was no impact of E-cadherin expression on tumoral features and survival in gastric cancer. -160 C -> A polymorphism may influence the expression of E-cadherin in gastric cancer.