Background: Glioma is a malignant central nervous system tumor in children, with poor outcomes and prognosis. HMGA2  is a proto-oncogene with increased expression in various malignancies.
Methods: We explored the association of HMGA2  polymorphisms with glioma susceptibility in Chinese children using a case-control study (191 cases, 248 controls). HMGA2  single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs6581658 A>G; rs8756 A>C; rs968697 T>C) were genotyped using PCR-based TaqMan.
Results: Increased glioma susceptibility was associated with rs6581658 A>G; AG (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.13– 2.58, P = 0.010) or GG (adjusted OR = 3.12, 95% CI = 1.26– 7.74, P = 0.014) genotype carriers had significantly raised glioma risk compared with AA genotype carriers. The rs6581658 AG/GG (adjusted OR = 1.85, 95% CI = 1.25– 2.73, P = 0.002) and AA/GG (adjusted OR = 2.58, 95% CI = 1.05– 6.33, P = 0.038) genotypes were associated with an increased risk of glioma relative to the AA genotype. Subjects with 2– 3 risk genotypes had a significantly elevated risk (adjusted OR = 1.93, 95% CI = 1.31– 2.84, P = 0.001) relative to those with 0– 1 risk genotype.
Conclusion: HMGA2  rs6581658 A>G is associated with glioma susceptibility in Chinese children.
Keywords: HMGA2 , polymorphism, susceptibility, glioma