Lymphotoxin alpha functional germline genetic variant: A future prognostic factor in colorectal cancer?

603Background: Lymphotoxin alpha (LTa) is a proinflammatory cytokine expressed by inflammatory cells with a role in the regulation of tumor microenvironment (TM). A putatively functional genetic polymorphism in LTA, at locus +80 (Thr26Asn, rs1041981), has been associated with altered expression of LTa. Here, we sought to evaluate whether this polymorphism associates with two main endpoints (progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival(OS)) in colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods: This retrospective cohort study was conducted in 166 CRC patients from a single tertiary hospital. Whole blood was used to isolate genomic DNA. Genotyping of LTA + 80 C > A was performed through real time-PCR allelic discrimination using specific Taqman probes, and confirmed by sequencing. Retrospective data and long-term outcomes were reviewed. Age and gender-adjusted logistic regression analyses were undertaken. Analyses were conducted after stratification by baseline lymphocyte count (LC) (LC 1x103/µL). Ka...