Association of COX-2 -765G>C and -1195A>G Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms with Bladder Cancer Risk: A Case-Control Study

Aim: This study aimed to investigate whether functional promoter polymorphisms of the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) gene, -765G>C (rs20417) and -1195A>G (rs689466), are associated with susceptibility and clinical features of bladder cancer in a Turkish population. Material and Methods: This case-control study involved 178 patients with bladder cancer and 214 healthy controls. Genotyping was carried out using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The study statistically analyzed the associations between the polymorphisms and cancer risk, tumor grade, stage, recurrence, and smoking status. Results: There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of age, sex, or body mass index. No statistically significant differences in genotype or allele frequencies were observed for either polymorphism between patients and controls. Furthermore, no notable association was found with tumor grade, stage, or recurrence. However, the C allele at -765G>C and the G allele at -1195A>G were slightly more common in high-grade and high-stage (T2-T4) tumors. Still, these differences did not reach statistical significance, suggesting a possible trend. Smoking was more common in patients, but showed no significant association with the polymorphisms. Conclusion: The COX-2 -765G>C and -1195A>G polymorphisms were not associated with an increased bladder cancer risk or progression in this Turkish population. Larger, multi-ethnic studies are needed to validate these findings and explore gene-environment effects.