Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 genetic variants and risk of Ewing's sarcoma

Genet Test Mol Biomarkers. 2013 Jun;17(6):458-63. doi: 10.1089/gtmb.2012.0488. Epub 2013 Mar 12.

Abstract

Despite the knowledge of many genetic alterations present in Ewing's sarcoma (ES), the complexity of this disease precludes placing its biology into a simple conceptual framework. Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4) can decrease T-cell activation and attenuate antitumor responses. Polymorphisms in the CTLA-4 gene have been shown to be associated with different diseases. Here, we investigated the association of four CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms, -1661A/G (rs4553808), -318C/T (rs5742909), +49G/A (rs231775), and CT60A/G (rs3087243), with ES in the Chinese population. A total of 308 ES cases and 362 healthy controls were recruited and CTLA-4 polymorphisms were tested by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. Results showed that frequencies of the CTLA-4 gene +49AA genotype, +49A allele, and GTAG haplotype were significantly increased in ES patients compared to healthy controls (odds ratio [OR]=2.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.43-4.09, p<0.001; OR 1.38, 95% CI 1.11-1.73, p=0.005, and OR=1.46, 95% CI 1.06-2.02, p=0.020, respectively). We further compared CTLA-4 polymorphisms in ES patients based on different clinical parameters and data revealed that ES patients with metastasis had higher numbers of the +49AA genotype than those without metastasis (p=0.004). These results indicated that the CTLA-4 polymorphism could be a risk factor for ES and suggested a potential role of CTLA-4 in the metastasis of this malignancy.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Alleles
  • Asian People
  • Bone Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Bone Neoplasms / genetics*
  • CTLA-4 Antigen / genetics*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Genetic Variation
  • Haplotypes
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Odds Ratio
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Risk Factors
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / ethnology
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / genetics*

Substances

  • CTLA-4 Antigen
  • CTLA4 protein, human