Background: Many studies have found that large tumor suppressor kinase 1 (LATS1) and LATS2 play important roles in many diseases, but studies have been rare on the relationship between these genes and non-cardia gastric cancer (GC). We performed a case-control association study to investigate the associations between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in LATS1 and LATS2 genes and Helicobacter pylori infection as well as the risk of non-cardia GC.
Methods: First, H. pylori infection was determined by an enzyme-linked immunoassay. Then genotyping of SNPs was performed for 808 samples by the Taqman method. Finally, appropriate statistical methods were used to analyze the relationship between the SNPs of LATS1 and LATS2 genes and H. pylori infection, the risk of non-cardia GC, and the level of protein expression.
Results: The statistical results showed that LATS2 rs9552315 was associated with H. pylori infection, and that the CC+CT genotype could reduce the risk of H. pylori infection (odds ratio [OR]: 0.549, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.339–0.881, P<0.05) compared with the TT genotype in a dominant model. LATS1 rs9393175 was associated with risk of non-cardia GC, and the AG genotype reduced the risk of non-cardia GC (OR: 0.702, 95% CI: 0.516–0.952, P<0.05) compared with the GG+AA genotype in an overdominant model. LATS2 rs9509492 was associated with the risk of GC in an additive model. No associations were found between five SNPs and expression of LATS1 and LATS2 proteins.
Conclusions: LATS2 rs9552315 CT genotype may be a protective factor against infection of H. pylori. LATS1 rs9393175 AG genotype and LATS2 rs9509492 GG genotype may be protective factors for non-cardia GC.