In Silico and Wet Analysis of BAX Gene G-248A Polymorphism and mRNA Expression in Peptic Ulcer Disease and Gastric Cancer

Peptic ulcer disease and gastric cancer are influenced by both environmental factors and genetic background. One such genetic factor is changes in the <i>BAX</i> gene, where G-248A decreases the activity of the <i>BAX</i> gene promoter, thereby inhibiting apoptosis and promoting carcinogenesis. The relationship between the <i>BAX</i> gene and the risk of developing these diseases has not been fully elucidated. In this study, genotyping G-248A was performed by restriction fragment-length polymorphism, and real-time PCR was employed to quantify <i>BAX</i> mRNA expression. An in silico analysis was performed using publicly available databases. The findings reveal a significant prevalence of the AA genotype in the gastric cancer group compared to healthy individuals, suggesting a potential genetic predisposition to malignancy. When peptic ulcer group and healthy controls were compared, no significant association was found. Further, in silico analyses demonstrated elevated <i>BAX</i> expression in gastric cancer tissues, correlating with advanced histological grades and improved overall survival rates. Elevated <i>BAX</i> expression, however, is associated with gastric cancer onset and could be a promising prognostic indicator. This study underlines the complex correlation between genetic factors and disease, highlighting the potential of the <i>BAX</i> gene as a biomarker for gastric cancer prognosis and therapeutic targeting.