Role of polymorphisms in BCL-2 and BAX genes in modulating the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether polymorphisms of − 938C/A and Thr43Ala in the BCL-2 gene and G − 248A in the BAX gene are associated with the risk of developing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We genotyped polymorphisms of − 938C/A and Thr43Ala in the BCL-2 gene and G-248A in the BAX gene among 424 patients with NHL and 446 controls. We found that the − 938AA genotype of the BCL2 gene was significantly associated with the risk of developing NHL (p < 0.001) and this genotype was associated with advanced stage (p = 0.01). Meanwhile, individuals having − 248AG + AA genotypes were significantly associated with an increased risk of NHL (p = 0.01), and these genotypes were associated with larger tumor size (p = 0.02). The present study demonstrated that the − 938AA genotype of the BCL-2 gene and − 248AG + AA genotype of the BAX gene may be susceptible genotypes for NHL. There appeared to be an impact of the BCL2 − 938AA genotype on advanced stage and − 248AG + AA genotypes on tumor size in NHL.

Keywords::

• Lymphoma
• risk
• variation
• BCL-2 family
• apoptosis
• genetics

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank all the participants and staff of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University, for their valuable contributions toward collecting specimens and sorting clinical data.

Potential conflict of interest

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