| Summary: | Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) represents a diverse group of hematological
malignancies, of which follicular lymphoma (FL) is a prevalent subtype. A
previous genome-wide association study has established a marker, rs10484561 in
the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II region on 6p21.32 associated with
increased FL risk. Here, in a three-stage genome-wide association study,
starting with a genome-wide scan of 379 FL cases and 791 controls followed by
validation in 1,049 cases and 5,790 controls, we identified a second independent
FL–associated locus on 6p21.32, rs2647012
(ORcombined = 0.64,
Pcombined = 2×10−21)
located 962 bp away from rs10484561 (r2<0.1 in controls). After
mutual adjustment, the associations at the two SNPs remained genome-wide
significant (rs2647012:ORadjusted = 0.70,
Padjusted = 4×10−12;
rs10484561:ORadjusted = 1.64,
Padjusted = 5×10−15).
Haplotype and coalescence analyses indicated that rs2647012 arose on an
evolutionarily distinct haplotype from that of rs10484561 and tags a novel
allele with an opposite (protective) effect on FL risk. Moreover, in a follow-up
analysis of the top 6 FL–associated SNPs in 4,449 cases of other NHL
subtypes, rs10484561 was associated with risk of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
(ORcombined = 1.36,
Pcombined = 1.4×10−7).
Our results reveal the presence of allelic heterogeneity within the HLA class II
region influencing FL susceptibility and indicate a possible shared genetic
etiology with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. These findings suggest that the HLA
class II region plays a complex yet important role in NHL.
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