ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CYTOKINES GENES POLYMORPHISMS IN PANCREATIC CANCER AND CHRONIC PANCREATITIS

Abstract

Background: Several cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) and interferon gamma (IFN gamma), may be involved in pancreatic carcinogenesis, especially tumor dissemination and cachexia, related with extremely poor PA prognosis. The aim of the study was to asses the clinical significance of G-307A TNF alpha and A+874T INF gamma genes polymorphisms in PA and chronic pancreatitis (CP). Methods: The study included 120 patients: 31 with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 51 with CP and 38 healthy controls. TNF alpha and INF gamma genes have been studied in DNA isolated from blood samples. The serum concentrations of TNF alpha and INF gamma have been measured with an enzyme-linked immunoassay (R&D Systems, USA). The associations of the analysed genotypes and clinical data at diagnosis have been evaluated. Results: The incidence of TNF alpha and INF gamma polymorphisms were similar in patients with PA, CP and control group (P > 0,5). Plasma levels of TNF alpha were significantly higher in PA patients (mean cytokine level:58,7 pg/ml) compared with CP patients (23,2 pg/ml) and control group (< 15,6 pg/ml; p < 0,01). In contrast, plasma levels of INF gamma in PA patients did not differ from those in the CP and control groups. In our study, there was no association between TNF alpha and IFN gamma serum levels as well as genes polymorphisms. Analysed polymorphisms were also unrelated to the tumor size, histological grade, regional or distant metastases or patients sex and age. Conclusion: These preliminary results indicate that analysed G-307A TNF alpha and A+874T INF gamma genes polymorphisms probably do not play the significant role in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Work supported by Medical University of Lodz, grant 502-11-537