Transforming growth factor-β1 gene polymorphism in mycosis fungoides.

BACKGROUND

Dysregulation in transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 signalling pathways has been linked to cancer.

AIM: To study the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the TGF-β1 gene and mycosis fungoides (MF).

METHODS

Using restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, SNPs in the TGF-β1 gene were studied in 55 patients with MF of different stages and in 100 apparently healthy controls.

RESULTS

A significant difference was found between patients and controls in distribution of the different TGF-β1 genotypes, with mutant forms (T/C, T/T) encountered significantly more often in patients with MF (P < 0.001). The heterozygous genotype (T/C) was significantly associated with patch stage MF, whereas the homozygous genotype (T/T) was significantly associated with tumour stage (stage IIb) MF (P = 0.001), although this study included only a small number of these patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Mutant TGF-β1 genotypes are significantly associated with MF in Egyptian patients, with the homozygous genotype (T/T) having a stronger association with tumour stage (stage IIb).