Contribution of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 rs3918242 Genotypes to Childhood Leukemia Risk

BACKGROUND/AIM: A single study has shown positive association and genotype-phenotype correlation between metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) promoter genotypes and adult acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). However, there is no report about childhood ALL. Thus, this study aimed at examining the role of MMP-9 rs3918242 genotypes in childhood ALL risk. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 266 childhood ALL cases and 266 healthy controls in Taiwan were examined for their MMP-9 rs3918242 genotypes via polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology. RESULTS: The MMP-9 rs3918242 CT or TT genotype carriers only had a slightly increased risk compared with CC carriers (p=0.6386 and 0.6005, respectively). The allelic frequency analysis also supported the idea that the variant T allele at MMP-9 rs3918242 is not differentially distributed between the case and control groups (p=0.4834). CONCLUSION: MMP-9 rs3918242 genotypes may indirectly influence the risk of childhood ALL. Further validations in other populations and analysis of the detail mechanisms are needed.