Matrix Metalloproteinase-7 Promoter Site Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (-181A>G) in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer in the Eastern Indian Population

TL;DR

This study finds that a specific genetic variation in the MMP7 gene is linked to a higher risk of epithelial ovarian cancer in the eastern Indian population.

Contribution

The study identifies a novel association between the MMP7 -181A>G polymorphism and epithelial ovarian cancer risk in the eastern Indian population.

Findings

The GG genotype of MMP7 -181A>G is significantly associated with increased ovarian cancer risk (OR: 2.92).

Genotype distribution differs significantly between cancer cases and controls in the study population.

The polymorphism does not correlate with tumor characteristics like FIGO stage or metastasis.

Abstract

Background: Matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP7) plays multiple roles in different stages of tumor development. Elevated MMP7 activity has been reported in ovarian cancer. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of promoter sites of the MMP7 gene has been shown to cause alteration in gene expression, hence resulting in changes in susceptibility to various diseases and tumor development.

Methods: The current study evaluated the association of epithelial ovarian cancer risk with MMP7 promoter site -181A>G polymorphism in the population of eastern India. The present case-control study included 64 histopathologically confirmed cases of epithelial ovarian cancer and 100 control subjects. The MMP7 -181A/G polymorphism was identified using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. The association between genotypes and epithelial ovarian cancer risk was analyzed by odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval.

Results: The frequencies of AA, AG, and GG genotypes in ovarian cancer cases were 37.5%, 46.9%, and 15.6%, respectively, while that of control subjects were 56%, 36%, and 8%, respectively, in the study population. By taking the wild-type AA genotype as a reference, it was found that genotype GG was associated with a significant risk for epithelial ovarian cancer (OR: 2.92). Frequency distribution of genotypes did not show any significant association with tumor characteristics like the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, histology, lymph node status, and distant metastasis.

Conclusion: The present study demonstrated the association of MMP7 promoter site -181 GG genotype and the G allele with increased risk for epithelial ovarian cancer in the eastern Indian population.

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