Abstract: Background and purpose: Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) not only acts as proinflammatory cytokine conducing to wide spectrum of human diseases including inflammatory diseases, but also can induce tumor development. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between TNF-α gene polymorphisms and the occurrence and development of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in Han population of Yunnan Province. Methods: A total of 425 lung cancer patients with NSCLC and 438 healthy individuals were included from Han population of Yunnan Province. The genotypes of 5 polymorphism loci, rs1799964 (-1031T>C), rs1800630 (-863C>A), rs1799724 (-857C>T), rs1800629 (-308G>A) and rs361525 (-238G>A) of TNF-α gene were detected by TaqMan assay. The frequency distributions of allele, genotype and haplotype in NSCLC patients and healthy controls were analyzed. Results: There was no significant difference in the allele and genotype frequency among 5 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites in TNF-α gene promoter (P>0.05). And in stratification analysis, the frequency of rs1799724-T was significantly higher in the adenocarcinoma patients than in the controls (P=0.010, OR=1.56, 95% CI: 1.11-2.19), and the rs1799724-TT+TC carrier showed significantly higher susceptibility to adenocarcinoma in dominant model (P=0.007, OR=1.66, 95% CI: 1.146-2.417). The frequency of rs1800630-A was significantly higher in adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma and other histological types of carcinoma patients (P=0.013, OR=2.15, 95% CI: 1.16-3.96). The haplotype analysis indicated that the frequency of haplotype rs1799724T-rs1800629G was higher in the adenocarcinoma group than in the control group (P=0.048, OR=1.42, 95% CI: 1.00-2.01). Conclusion: The T allele and TT genotype of rs1799724 (C>T) in TNF-α gene promoter might be associated with the susceptibility to lung adenocarcinoma in Han population of Yunnan Province. And rs1800630 (C>T) -A might be a risk factor of other histological lung cancer in Han population of Yunnan Province.

Key words: Non-small cell lung cancer, Tumor necrosis factor-α, Single nucleotide polymorphism, Association, Han population of Yunnan Province