Genotype distribution of T cell receptor β gene in Indonesian nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients

Background: nasopharyngeal carcinoma (npc) is a multifactorial genetic disease, characteristically endemic and shows considerable differences in its geographical distribution. besides infection with ebv, genetic factors such as polymorphisms of tcr-β gene contribute to the incidence of npc. this study investigates the association of tcr-β gene polymorphisms with individual susceptibility to develop npc in indonesian ethnic groups. methods: the study was carried out by the pcr-rflp method using bgl ii restriction enzyme to digest tcr-β gene. the pcr-rflp analysis of tcr-β gene was used to determine allotypes of tcr-β gene in npc patients and control among ethnic chinese and indigenous groups in the population of indonesia. results: the results indicate that the distribution of tcr-β gene allotypes between npc patients and controls are not significantly different (p > 0.05); however, the frequency of a allele tends to increase in npc patients. the distribution of tcr-β gene allotypes between chinese ethnic group was not significantly different from indigenous groups (p > 0.05). conclusion: the distribution of tcr-β gene allele between npc group and control groups showed no difference. the distribution of tcr-β gene between ethnic chinese and indigenous groups showed no difference. polymorphisms of tcr-β gene are not associated with npc and ethnic groups in indonesian population. (med j indones 2011; 20:171-7)