Alteration of P۵۳, hMLH۱, and HER۲ Gene in Bangladeshi Gastric Cancer Patients: Their Association with H. pylori Infection and Clinicopathological Factors

Background: Gene alterations are required for the development of gastric cancer, which are influenced by environmental and host factors. We conducted the present study to find the status of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and its association with altered genes P۵۳, hMLH۱, and HER۲ in gastric cancer patients and to analyze their correlation with clinical, pathological, and environmental factors. Method: This was a cross-sectional study. For genetic (P۵۳ and hMLH۱) study of the gastrectomized tissue DNA extraction and optimization, we performed PCR amplification and DNA sequencing. HER۲ was studied by immunochemical technique. The results were matched with tumor status, age and sex, smoking, and H. pylori antibody status of the patients to find their association. Results: The mean age of the patients was ۵۲.۹۱ (±۱۳.۹۴) years. Among the ۴۵ patients selected for genetic tests, ۱۲ aged ۴۰ or more and ۳۳ aged over ۴۰. Among the genes, ۳۳(۷۳.۳%) in P۵۳ and ۱۷(۳۷.۷%) in hMLH۱ were mutated and ۱۱(۲۴.۲%) in HER۲ were found to be overexpressed. Chi square and regression analysis showed that they all had associations with H. pylori positivity (P < ۰.۰۵, odds ratio >۱). hMLH۱ was associated with the location of the tumor, smoking, sex, blood group, and age, and P۵۳ was found to be affected by extra salt intake, sex, blood group, and age of the patients (P ≤ ۰.۰۵ ). Conclusion: Genetic mutation was found in nearly all the patients with gastric cancer, which was significantly associated with H. pylori infection. Mass eradication of this organism might play a role in reducing cancer incidence in Bangladesh.

Keywords:

Stomach Neoplasms , Helicobacter pylori , Genes , p۵۳ , hMLH۱ , HER۲