RAS gene polymorphisms confer the risk of neuroblastoma in Chinese children from Jiangsu province

To evaluate the potential association between single nucleotide polymorphisms in the RAS gene and neuroblastoma risk, we examined four candidate SNPs within this gene.

Our hospital-based case-control study included 402 cases and 473 controls. Four SNPs (rs12587 G > T, rs7973450 A > G, and rs7312175 G > A in KRAS and rs2273267 A > T in NRAS) were genotyped using the TaqMan assay. The association between RAS gene polymorphisms and neuroblastoma susceptibility was assessed through odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

None of the four candidate SNPs exhibited a significant attribution to neuroblastoma risk. However, the concurrent presence of 2-3 KRAS risk genotypes significantly conferred an increased susceptibility to neuroblastoma (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.55, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.33-4.89; P = 0.005). Further stratified analyses indicated that carriers of the KRAS rs12587 TT genotype tended to be more predisposed to neuroblastoma in males and in the subgroup with tumors originating from other sites. Additionally, the co-occurrence of 2-3 KRAS risk genotypes was found to be linked to an increased neuroblastoma risk in subgroups of individuals older than 18 months, males, tumors originating from retroperitoneum, mediastinum, or other sites, and those with tumors at clinical stage III + IV, respectively.

In summary, a single KRAS gene polymorphism may be weakly associated with an increased risk of childhood neuroblastoma in Jiangsu province, China, while the presence of more KRAS risk genotypes may increase the contribution to the risk of neuroblastoma.