Genetic association of promoter in GRP78 gene with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in a Chinese population.

BACKGROUND: Emerging evidences were accumulated to support the view that GRP78 might be associated with multiple types of cancer. Given these, the aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of GRP78 gene promoter and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Three SNPs (rs3216733, rs17840761 and rs17840762) in GRR78 promoter were estimated in 422 NPC patients and 452 controls. Genotyping was performed using SNaPshot SNP. Serum GRP78 level was performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 software. RESULTS: Significant association between rs3216733 polymorphism and NPC was observed (Cd vs. dd: OR = 0.57, 95% CI 0.43-0.76, P < 0.001; CC vs. dd: OR = 0.62, 95% CI 0.39-0.98, P = 0.043; Cd/CC vs. dd: OR = 0.58, 95% CI 0.44-0.76, P < 0.001; C vs. d OR = 0.70, 95% CI 0.57-0.86, P = 0.001). Additionally, we further found that expression were down-regulated in serum of patients with NPC carrying rs3216733 CC genotype when compared to that of dd genotype (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The observations suggest that rs3216733 polymorphism in the GRP78 gene promoter may correlate with NPC susceptibility.