Genetic Polymorphism of Thr241Met and Other Risk Factors Related with Gastric Cancer in Iranian Military Population: A Pilot Case Control Study

Gastric cancer (GC) is a result of interaction between genetic and environmental factors. The recognition of GC risk factors is very important for early diagnostic and prevention from this cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of some factors such as Thr241Met polymorphism on GC occurrence in Iranian military population. Investigated samples in the present study were 53 tissue samples from patients with pathologically proven GC and 91 sex-age matched blood samples from healthy controls. Data for cases and controls were obtained through registered files and questionnaires, respectively. Genomic DNA was extracted and PCR-RFLP was used for genotyping of Thr241Met polymorphism. Chi-square and odds ratio (OR) were used to determine the factors affecting the incidence of GC. The Thr\Met genotype of Thr241Met polymorphism of the XRCC3 gene (P = 0.04 and OR = 2.99) and blood type B (P = 0.04 and OR = 2.99) significantly affected the incidence of GC. This study did not prove the significant effect of smoking (P = 0.08 and OR = 2.47) and positive family history (P = 0.13 and OR = 2.25) on GC risk. These findings may be helpful in early identification of high-risk individuals, especially in military population and prevention from GC.