BACKGROUND/AIM: Cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), transiently expressed on T cells, plays a pivotal role in the negative feedback regulation of T-cell activation and proliferation. The aim of the present study was to examine the influence of CTLA-4 gene polymorphism rs3087243 on CRC susceptibility and long-term survival in Swedish patients with CRC.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Genotypes of 491 patients and 433 healthy controls were determined, using TaqMan single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) assays based on polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS: Patients carrying allele A were found to be at a higher risk of CRC and this allele was found to be more common in patients with disseminated disease compared to localized disease in the right colon. Kaplan-Meier analysis of cancer-specific survival showed that carriers of allele A had the highest risk of CRC-related death.

CONCLUSION: The SNP rs3087243 of the CTLA-4 gene was associated with CRC risk and, therefore, it could be a prognostic marker for Swedish patients with CRC.