Background: The aim of this study was to assess whether the genotype of the serotonin transporter-linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) in gastric cancer patients is associated with postoperative pain and pain threshold.
Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 251 patients scheduled for gastrectomy from May to September 2019. All patients enrolled in the study were asked to complete the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale questionnaire. Heat pain threshold (HPT), cold pain threshold (CPT) and Pressure pain threshold (PPT) were measured for all participants one day prior to surgery. Blood samples were collected for genetic testing. All patients were connected to a patient-controlled intravenous analgesia (PCIA) pump at the end of the surgery. After exclusion of 15 patients, the postoperative conditions of 236 patients were recorded.
Results: Distribution of homozygous long (L/L), heterozygous (L/S), and homozygous short (S/S) 5-HTTLPR genotypes among participants were 26 (11.0%), 91 (38.6%), and 119 (50.4%), respectively. Heat pain threshold (P = 0.038) and Numerical rating scale (NRS) in the 1st postoperative 24 h (P = 0.026) were significantly different between long (L/L) and short (S/S) genotype carriers.
Conclusions: In patients with gastric cancer, heat pain stimulation is associated with 5-HTTLPR polymorphism, and postoperative pain may be related to 5-HTTLPR polymorphism.
Keywords: Serotonin transporter gene; gastric cancer; pain threshold; postoperative pain.