Association between miR-146a rs2910164 Polymorphism and the Incidence of Ovarian Cancer in Mazandaran Population

Ovarian cancer is the second most common cancer of the reproductive system in women. miRNAs are small non-coding molecules that play a role in regulating target gene expression. Genetic diversity increases the chance of developing ovarian cancer by changing the expression of target genes. The present study aimed to assess the polymorphism of miR-146a gene rs2910164 in women with ovarian cancer in the population of Mazandaran province.

In this case-control study, 70 women with ovarian cancer and 70 healthy women were investigated. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood samples. Tetra primers ARMS-PCR method was used to investigate the genetic diversity of miR-146a. The data were analyzed using SPSS software (version 23), with statistical tests at a significance level of 0.05.

The frequency rates of CC, CG, and GG genotypes were calculated as 17.14%, 31.43%, and 51.43% in patients and 28.57%, 40.00%, and 31.43% in healthy individuals, respectively. The statistical results demonstrated a significant relationship between the frequency of the C allele of the miR-146a gene and ovarian cancer (P=0.007).

The results of this research highlighted the relationship between CC genotype and ovarian cancer in the studied subjects. Allele C can be introduced as a risk factor.