Hafizullah Ashrafi - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
Mohammadullah Mohammadi - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
Simin Hemati - Department of Radiation Oncology, Isfahan University of Medical Science, Isfahan, Iran
sepideh Eisazaei - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
Milad Mollaali - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran
Zakieh Siahpoosh - Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Zahedan, Iran

Objective: Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer worldwide, occurring in approximately two-thirds of developing countries, and is one of the leading causes of cancer deaths. The mitogen-activated protein kinase ۱۴ (MAPK۱۴) plays an important role in the conversion of extracellular stimuli to a wide range of cellular responses. The ۵-hydroxytryptamine receptor ۲B (HTR۲B) increases the level of ۵-HT; and as a result, platelet-derived ۵-HT promotes tumor angiogenesis, tumor growth, and metastatic potential of cancer cells. Materials and Methods: Expression analysis was performed on ۲۰ healthy cases and ۲۰ cancerous cases for MAPK۱۴ and ۲۰ healthy cases and ۱۹ cancerous cases for HTR۲B using real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) assay. Polymorphisms were evaluated in ۳۸ healthy cases and ۳۰ cancerous cases for rs۵۵۰۳۵۲۵۳۸, and ۳۵ healthy cases and ۳۵ cancerous cases for rs۲۸۷۶۳۹۷۳ via tetra-primer amplification refractory mutation system PCR (T-ARMS PCR) technique. Results: No significant difference was observed in MAPK۱۴ and HTR۲B gene expression levels (P>۰.۰۵). In addition, there is no statistically significant association of different genotypes in rs۲۸۷۶۳۹۷۳ from MAPK۱۴ gene and rs۵۵۰۳۵۲۵۳۸ from HTR۲B gene with gastric cancer (P>۰.۰۵). Conclusions: No significant difference was noted between patient and healthy individuals in expression levels and gene polymorphisms; nevertheless, results may vary by significantly changing the gene pool or population size.

Stomach Neoplasms, Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction, Genetic Variation, Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase ۱۴, Receptor, Serotonin, ۵-HT۲B