The genetic effects of the six loci were further evaluated on the GC risk according to the confirmed histological type (intestinal and diffuse type), and the GA genotype of rs17037102 in DKK2 was found in association with an increased risk of diffuse GC with only marginal significance (adjusted OR = 1.77, 95 % CI: 1.01-3.11, P = 0.05). This evidence concerns the gene DKK2 and gastric cancer.