Association of TNF Alpha -308 GG Genotype with Post Operative Infections in Oesophageal Cancer Patients

Aim: To find the effect of TNF alpha gene biallelic single nucleotide polymorphism (snp) at -308 position on the outcome of Surgery in Oesophageal Cancer patients.

Methods: In a retrospective case-control study design, we selected 132 Oesophageal Cancer patients who underwent surgery in St. James's hospital. The patients were divided in four groups; 1) Post Operative (PO) Infections of any type; 2) non infective pleural effusions; 3) No PO complication (controls); and 4) Other complications. DNA was extracted and genotyping was done using Taqman chemistry and PCR/RFLP.

Results: The distribution of GG homozygotes and GA heterozygotes was significantly different in the Post operative infection and other complication groups versus the „no complications” group (P=0.013). There was no statistically significant difference in the distribution of genotypes in the control group („no PO complications”) and non infective pleural effusion group.

Conclusion: Many recent studies have reported a higher incidence of infections in patients under anti TNF alpha therapy (infliximab or etanercept). We propose that the polymorphism in the promotor region of TNF alpha gene may lead to altered expression and a possible non optimal activity of TNF alpha in GG genotypes, predisposing them to a higher risk of developing infections/complications.