Transforming Growth Factor-α and Nonsyndromic Cleft Lip with or without Palate or Cleft Palate Only in Kelantan, Malaysia

Objective: To determine the frequency of the transforming growth factor-alpha (TGFα) Taq1 polymorphism in nonsyndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL±P) and cleft palate only (CP) in Kelantan, Malaysia. Setting: The study was conducted at the Combined Cleft Clinic and at the Human Genome Centre in Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia in Kelantan, Malaysia. Design: We examined the C2/Taq1 variant of the TGFα gene in 46 patients with nonsyndromic CL±P or CP only and in 33 controls. The TGFα genotype frequencies in patients were compared with those in controls using the chi-square or Fisher exact test. DNA samples were obtained from peripheral blood. Results: No association was found between TGFαTaq1 polymorphism and CL±P or CP in this case-control study. In addition, no homozygosity for the rare allele C2 was noted in CL±P, CP, or the controls. Conclusion: No evidence of TGFαTaq1 polymorphism was observed in association with CL±P and CP in this study.