Although we observed no correlation between the FGFR4 Gly388Arg polymorphism and clinicopathological parameters or survival in the total cohort of GC patients, the presence of the Arg388 allele was associated with shorter survival time in patients with GC if the tumor was small (log rank χ(2) = 5.449, P = 0.020), well differentiated (log rank χ(2) = 12.798, P = 0.000), T1 or T2 stage (log rank χ(2) = 4.745, P = 0.029), without lymph node involvement (log rank χ(2) = 6.647, P= 0.010), and at an early clinical stage (log rank χ(2) = 4.615, P = 0.032).
Associations between FGFR4 Gly388Arg polymorphism and overall survival exist in patients with gastric cancer (P = 0.046).The FGFR4 Arg allele (hazard risk (HR), 2.324; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.054-4.125; P = 0.037) and TNM stage (HR, 5.516; 95% CI 3.658-7.409; P = 0.005) were independent prognostic factors in patients with gastric cancer.