Genetic factors associated with intestinal metaplasia in a high risk Singapore-Chinese population: a cohort study

Background: Intestinal metaplasia (IM) is an important precursor lesion in the development of gastric cancer ( GC). The aim of this study was to investigate genetic factors previously linked to GC risk for their possible association with IM. A total of 18 polymorphisms in 14 candidate genes were evaluated in a Singapore-Chinese population at high risk of developing GC. Methods: Genotype frequencies were compared between individuals presenting with (n = 128) or without (n = 246) IM by both univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: Carriers of the NQO1 609 T allele showed an association with IM in individuals who were seropositive for Helicobacter pylori (HP+; OR = 2.61, 95% CI: 1.18-5.80, P = .018). The IL-10 819 C allele was also associated with IM in HP+ individuals (OR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.21-4.43, P = 0.011), while the PTPN11 A allele was associated with IM in HP-individuals (OR = 2.51, 95% CI: 1.16-5.40, P = 0.019), but showed an inverse association in HP+ subjects (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.21-0.99, P = 0.048). Conclusion: Polymorphisms in NQO1, IL-10 and PTPN11, in combination with HP status, could be used to identify individuals who are more likely to develop IM and therefore GC.