Abstract

Background The most studied genetic polymorphisms associated with gastric cancer (GC) risk are located in protein-coding genes. However, the localization of these in long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) has not been fully studied. We aim to investigate the associations of Long non-coding RNA macrophage migration inhibitory factor antisense RNA1(Lnc-MIF-AS1) five polymorphisms (rs755622, rs17004044, rs2070767, rs1007889, rs2000468) with the risk and prognosis of GC. Methods A total of 844 GC patients and 871 controls were included in the study. Genotyping was carried out using polymerase chain reaction-ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) technology. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) generated from unconditional logistic regression , were applied to quantify the effects of MIF-AS1 gene SNPs on GC risk. Log-rank test and Cox regression analysis were fitted to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) to quantify the effects of MIF-AS1 gene SNPs on GC prognosis . Results Significant associations were identified between MIF-AS1 rs17004044 variants and GC group in the codominant , dominant and additive models (OR = 2.843, P  = 0.010; OR = 1.370, P  = 0.004; and OR = 1.386; P  = 0.001). In addition, association between rs17004044 variants and survival of GC was extremely observed (TC HR = 2.02 (1.21–3.37) P  = 0.007, CC HR = 5.61 (2.12–14.83), P  = 0.001). Conclusion MIF-AS1 polymorphism rs17004044 contributes to increased predisposition and prognosis to GC.