The 3´-untranslated ApaI-Insulin-like Growth Factor II Gene (IGF2) Polymorphism in Women with Uterine Leiomyomas

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore a possible association betweenthe rare allele A of the single nucleotide polymorphismin the 3´-untranslated region of the insulin-like growthfactor II gene (IGF2), previously described as beingassociated with growth dysregulation, higher body massindex (BMI), and elevated risk of uterine leiomyomas.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A series of 144 women(72 clinically and histologically confirmed uterineleiomyomas and 72 without leiomyomas) was analyzedby a PCR-RFLP (Polimerase Chain Reaction – RestrictionFragment Length Polymorphism) based approach todetect a single nucleotide polymorphism in the 3´-untranslated region of the gene IGF2. Genotypic andallelic frequencies distributions in both groups werecompared with weight, height, and BMI. RESULTS: Nostatistically significant differences in the genotype andallelic frequencies between patients and controls wereobserved. Similarly, the distribution of genotypes andweight, height, and BMI did not differ significantlybetween the two groups although the weight and BMIwere lower in leiomyomas patients homozygous forallele A. CONCLUSIONS: The ApaI polymorphism ofthe IGF2 gene does not produce different risk forleiomyoma development. Our data suggest that thedeviations related in the genotypic frequencies for thispolymorphism among women with uterine leiomyomasis not correlated with BMI and that previous associationswere probably a result of chance statistical samplingpresent in a small studied group.