–308 G/A TNF-α gene polymorphism influences the course of basal cell carcinoma in a Polish population

Abstract

Introduction

The etiopathogenesis of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is multifactorial. The TNF-α gene seems to be an interesting gene candidate for BCC susceptibility because of the proinflammatory and immunosuppressive properties of its product. The aim of the study was to assess the frequency of –308 G/A and –238 G/A gene polymorphisms in the TNF-α gene and serum levels of cytokine in patients with BCC.

Material and methods

The study included 176 (94 women, 82 men) patients with BCC and 261 healthy volunteers. –308 G/A and –238 G/A TNF-α polymorphisms were analyzed using the amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction method (ARMS-PCR). Serum concentrations of TNF-α were measured using ELISA.

Results

There was no statistically significant association between allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies in BCC patients in comparison with controls. Occurrence of the –308 TNF-α A allele or GA genotype in the group of patients with BCC increases risk of recurrence of tumor recurrence (OR = 4.8, 95% CI: 1.6–13.9, p = 0.004 and OR = 4.97, 95% CI: 1.7–14.5, p = 0.004). Moreover, –308 TNF-α GG genotype decreased risk of recurrence (OR = 0.2, 95% CI: 0.07–0.6, p = 0.004). The –238/–308 GA haplotype was connected with increased risk of recurrence (OR = 4.36, 95% CI: 1.49–12.7, p = 0.007). We also found significantly higher TNF-α levels among BCC patients in comparison with controls (p = 0.004).

Conclusions

The obtained results did not confirm the role of the –308 G/A and –238 G/A TNF-α gene polymorphisms in BCC development, but the presence of the A allele or GA genotype in –308 G/A TNF-α gene polymorphism may have an impact on the course of the disease.

Introduction

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cutaneous malignancy as well as the most common human malignancy overall, and its incidence is increasing. For more than 80 years, convincing epidemiological evidence has linked sun exposure with skin cancer. Basal cell carcinoma is more frequent in patients with higher cumulative sun exposure, with more sun-sensitive skin types, from areas of high ambient solar irradiance, and on sun-exposed body sites [1]. Apart from the direct mutagenic effect, ultraviolet radiation (UVR) plays an important role in photocarcinogenesis via immunosuppressive properties. To date, the pathogenic mechanisms of immunosuppressive UVR activity are not clearly elucidated. However, based on literature data one may conclude that impairment in tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) synthesis might play a crucial role in this process. It was shown that UVB exposure induces the release of TNF-α within the skin [2]. Tumor necrosis factor-α injection into mouse skin may provoke immunosuppressive effects similar to those induced by UVB exposure, and this phenomenon can be blocked by anti-TNF-α antibodies [3]. Tumor necrosis factor-α is one of the most important cytokines involved in the growth, differentiation, cellular function and survival of many cells, which plays a key role in the pathogenesis of many infections and inflammatory diseases. The TNF-α gene is located within the class III region of the human HLA locus, and several studies have shown extensive linkage disequilibrium both within the TNF locus and HLA class I and II. Several polymorphisms in the TNF-α gene have been found to be associated with various autoimmune disorders. Elevated levels of TNF-α mRNA and protein have been demonstrated in skin and sera of patients with autoimmune diseases. Tumor necrosis factor-α has also been reported to play an important role in the pathogenesis of cancer [4, 5].

The TNF-α gene is highly polymorphic, and many studies have shown associations between its functional polymorphic variants and an increased risk of developing tumors and inflammatory disorders [5, 6].

There are scarce and inconsistent data on the correlation between TNF-α gene polymorphisms and development of cutaneous malignancies.

In this study, two functional (–308 G/A and –238 G/A) single nucleotide polymorphisms in the promoter of the TNF-α gene were assessed in relation to the risk of BCC development in a northern Polish population. Moreover, we aimed to determine whether the presence of genetic disturbances influences the clinical course of BCC. Additionally, TNF-α serum level was measured and it was correlated with investigated TNF-α polymorphisms.

Material and methods

The study included 176 (94 women, 82 men) BCC patients at a mean age of 68.9 ±11.8 years. All the patients were treated surgically during 2007–2009 in the Department of Dermatology, Venerology and Allergology, Medical University of Gdansk. None was an organ transplant recipient, was being treated with immunosuppressive drugs or suffered from any systemic inflammatory or other malignancy. Additionally, 261 healthy individuals, matched for age and sex, were enrolled to serve as controls (Table I). All subjects were exclusively of Eastern European/Polish descent.

Table I.

Characteristics of the BCC patients investigated

Variables	Males	Females	Overall group
N (%)	82 (46.6)	94 (53.4)	176
Age, mean ± SD [years]	69.6 ±9.9	68.5 ± 13.1	68.9 ±11.8
Age < 60 years, n (%)	13 (37.1)	22 (62.9)	35 (22.6)
Age > 60 years, n (%)	59 (49.2)	61 (50.8)	120 (77.4)
Tumor size, n (%) [cm]:
≤ 1	27 (35.1)	50 (64.9)	77 (48.4)
> 1	44 (53.7)	38 (46.3)	82 (51.6)
Recognition, n (%):
BCC	71 (45.8)	84 (54.2)	155 (90.6)
BCC recurrent	7 (43.7)	9 (56.2)	16 (9.4)
Number of tumors, n (%):
One tumor	62 (43.1)	82 (56.9)	144 (81.8)
More than one tumor	19 (59.4)	13 (40.6)	32 (18.2)
Location, n (%):
Area exposed to UV	58 (42.6)	78 (57.4)	136 (85.0)
Area not exposed to UV	14 (58.3)	10 (41.7)	24 (15.0)

The TNF-α gene polymorphisms at positions –308 G/A and –238 G/A were analyzed using the amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction method (ARMS-PCR) according to the method described by Perrey et al. [7].

Serum concentrations of TNF-α were measured using the ELISA test in 74 BCC patients and 39 unaffected subjects.

Statistical analysis

The χ² analysis was used to compare the observed number of genotypes with that expected for a population in a Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. χ² analysis was also used to test the significance of the differences of observed alleles and genotypes between groups. A logistic regression model was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The Mann-Whitney U-test was used to compare the mean values, and the correlation was determined by mean Spearman coefficient values. Analyses were performed with Statistica 10 software (StatSoft, Inc. 2011). Value of p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Haplotype estimation was conducted using the software package Phase v2.1 [8, 9].

Results

The genotype distribution of all polymorphisms was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. Table II shows genotypes and alleles frequencies for TNF-α –308 G/A and –238 G/A polymorphisms in patients with BCC and control subjects. There were no statistically significant association between allele, genotype and haplotype frequencies between BCC and control groups. However, AA genotype in –308 G/A TNF-α polymorphisms was statistically more frequent in the group with multiple BCC compared to that with one tumor (3.13 vs. 0%; p = 0.035). In the group of patients with recurrent BCC, GG genotype in –308 G/A TNF-α polymorphism was statistically less common than in the group without recurrence (43.75 vs. 78.81, p = 0.002), whereas GA genotype was more frequent in the recurrent BCC group (56.25 vs. 20.53; p = 0.001). The presence of the A allele or GA genotype for –308 G/A TNF-α polymorphisms significantly increases BCC recurrence risk (OR = 4.8 (95% CI: 1.6–13.9), p = 0.004; OR = 4.97 (95% CI: 1.7–14.5), p = 0.004, respectively). GG genotype in –308 G/A TNF-α polymorphism decreased that risk; OR = 0.2 (95% CI: 0.07–0.6; p = 0.004) (Figures 1, 2).

Table II.

Genotype and allele frequencies for –308 G/A and –238 G/A TNF polymorphisms in patients with BCC and control subjects

Genotypes and alleles	Controls, n (%)	BCC, n (%)	Value of p*
−308	n = 261	n = 176
GG	178 (68.2)	134 (76.1)	NS
GA	80 (30.7)	41 (23.3)	NS
AA	3 (1.1)	1 (0.6)	NS
	n = 522	n = 352
G	436 (83.5)	309 (87.8)
A	86 (16.5)	43 (12.2)
−238	n = 261	n = 176
GG	240 (91.9)	155 (88.1)	NS
GA	21 (8.1)	21 (11.9)	NS
AA	0	0	NS
	n = 522	n = 352
G	501 (96)	331 (94)	NS
A	21 (4)	21 (6)	NS

BCC – Basal cell carcinoma, NS – not significant.

^*Pearson's χ².

Figure 1.

Allele frequencies of –308 G/A TNF polymorphism in BCC patients with and without tumor recurrence (p = 0.005)

Figure 2.

Genotype frequencies of –308 G/A TNF polymorphism in BCC patients with and without tumor recurrence

The diplotype and haplotype frequencies were significantly different in the recurrent BCC group when compared to the non-recurrent BCC group (p = 0.03; p = 0.007). The –238/-308 GA TNF-α haplotype was associated with increased risk of BCC recurrence; OR = 4.36 (95% CI: 1.49–12.7; p = 0.007) (Figures 3, 4).

Figure 3.

–238/–308 TNF diplotype frequencies in BCC patients with and without tumor recurrence

Figure 4.

–238/–308 TNF haplotype frequencies in BCC patients with and without tumor recurrence

We found a significantly increased TNF-α serum level among BCC patients in comparison with healthy controls (mean 0.173 ±0.076 pg/ml; vs. 0.142 ±0.03 pg/ml; p = 0.004) (Figure 5). A higher serum level was also observed in patients with tumors situated in sun-exposed areas compared to those on the trunk and extremities (mean 0.178 pg/ml vs. 0.162 pg/ml), but the difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.46). There were no correlations between TNF-α serum level and examined polymorphic variants of the TNF-α gene (p > 0.05 for all comparisons) (Table III).

Figure 5.

TNF-α serum level among BCC patients in comparison with healthy controls (p = 0.004)

Table III.

Mean serum levels of TNF for TNF genotypes

Patients	TNF-238			TNF-308
	GG	AG	AA	GG	AG	AA
Control group(n = 39)	0.141029±0.030770	0.146000±0.033941	–	0.143071±0.033009	0.137200±0.026368	0.147000±0.000000
BCC patients(n = 74)	0.170848±0.076377	0.188857±0.080638	–	0.172500±0.080720	0.175846±0.053074	–

Discussion

Ultraviolet radiation plays a crucial role in pathogenesis of non-melanoma skin cancer, including BCC. However, the significant number of tumors arising on non-sun-exposed areas of the skin suggests that other factors play a role in the pathogenesis of BCC. The association between BCC development and personal and family history of skin cancer is proven. The importance of immunosuppression in BCC etiopathogenesis was underlined by the increased risk of developing malignancy during immunosuppressive therapy [10].

Genetic studies in patients with BCC are focused on genes involved in DNA repair, defense against oxidative stress and others mutagens, immune modulation, tanning and other biochemical processes [11–14].

This study evaluated the potential impact of –308 G/A and –238 G/A TNF-α promoter gene polymorphisms on the development and clinical severity of BCC. These two polymorphisms are functional and can regulate cytokine production [5, 6].

TNF-α polymorphisms have been widely explored in several malignancies and inflammatory diseases, but there are only a few reports that have studied BCC patients [5, 15]. The presence of –308 G/A TNF-α polymorphism was confirmed as a risk factor for development of many malignancies [5]. In contrast, –238 G/A TNF-α polymorphism might play an apparently protective role against cancers, as reported by Jang et al. [16].

Our results are in line with Skov et al. [13], who did not find any association between –308 G/A TNF-α polymorphism and BCC development. Rizzato et al. [17] in their study conducted on 529 BCC cases from Central Europe found a link between 14 functional polymorphisms in 11 cytokine genes and BCC development. They reported that in the group of subjects more prone to skin burns, carriers of at last one copy of allele G of the –308 G/A TNF-α gene polymorphism had an increased risk of BCC. A connection of the GG genotype and increased number of BCC was observed by Hajeer et al. [18]. In our study the presence of multiple BCCs was associated with AA genotype. Most important is the fact that GA genotype in –308 G/A TNF-α polymorphisms is linked with five times higher risk of BCC recurrence while presence of GG genotype decreased that risk significantly. The diplotypes and haplotypes also had an influence on tumor recurrence. The –238/–308 GA TNF-α haplotype was associated with increased risk of BCC recurrence. This novel observation has not been previously described.

These results show that the recurrence tendency may be caused not only by some clinical and histopathological characteristics of the tumor but also by some genetic factors. Despite the suggested pivotal role of TNF-α in UV-induced immunosuppression, other cytokines are involved in determination of UV susceptibility. Welsh et al. [19] found that in men, a combination of skin type, burns, IL-10, IL4R and possible TNFR2 polymorphisms was important in both BCC and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) susceptibility. In women, skin type, burns and IL-10 were the most critical risk factors in SCC, with risk of BCC involving these same factors plus genetic variants in HTR2A. IL-12 b and IL-4r. Our unpublished data confirm the role of –1082 G/A IL-10 polymorphism in BCC development in the Polish population. The role of –238 G/A TNF-α polymorphism is unclear and needs further investigations. These facts suggest that BCC presence is determined by the influence of environmental and genetic factors which interact with each other.

In our study we observed an increased TNF-α serum level in BCC patients. These results are consistent with Skov et al. [13], who demonstrated that BCC patients’ mononuclear cells stimulated with lipopolysaccharide release significantly more TNF-α than control mononuclear cells. The increase in TNF-α level is related to poor prognosis in many malignancies [20, 21]. Elamin et al. [22] observed higher levels of TNF-α, IL-4, and IL-5 in tumors occurring on sun-exposed skin. In our report, we found a higher serum TNF-α level in patients with tumors occurring on sun-exposed skin, but the difference was not statistically significant. These results confirm that TNF-α plays a central role in immunosuppression induced by UVB and suggest their importance in UV-related BCC pathogenesis. The prognostic value of increased TNF-α level in BCC patients remains unclear. It may result from the need of homeostasis in human organisms and the activation of self-protective mechanisms. Cytokine is produced by tumor cells as well as activated immune cells, especially macrophages and T cells. The role of TNF-α in BCC etiopathogenesis seems to be complex. On the one hand, cytokine is involved in UV-related carcinogenesis, while on the other, it has anticarcinogenic functions. Recent investigations suggest that risk of skin cancer may be increased among patients treated with anti-TNF therapy [23].

In conclusion, the present results do not confirm the role of the –308 G/A and –238 G/A TNF-α gene polymorphisms as predictor factors for BCC development in the Polish population. However, the presence of the A allele or GA genotype in –308 G/A TNF-α gene polymorphism and the –238/–308 GA TNF-α haplotype may have an impact on the course of the disease. Further complex, multicenter investigations are strongly required.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.