Genetic polymorphisms and lung cancer susceptibility: a review

Lung cancer is a major cause of cancer-related death in the developed countries and the overall survival rate has still an extremely poor. Cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for lung cancer although a possible role for genetic susceptibility in the development of lung cancer has been inferred from familial clustering of the disease and segregation analyzes. Everyone may have a unique combination of polymorphic traits that modify genetic susceptibility and response to drugs, chemicals and carcinogens. Developments in molecular biology have led to growing interest in investigation of biological markers, which may increase predisposition to lung carcinogenesis. Therefore, the high-risk genotype of an individual could be determined easily. As there are the great number of carcinogen-activating and -detoxifying enzymes, the variation in their expression and the complexity of exposures to tobacco carcinogens, the existence of multiple alleles at loci of those enzymes may result in differential susceptibilities of individuals. This review summarize data addressing the relationships of lung cancer to markers of genetic susceptibility genes, including metabolic polymorphisms other than well-investigated cytochrome P450s or glutathione S-transferases, DNA repair genes and the p53 tumor suppressor gene. Among genetic polymorphisms reviewed here, myeloperoxidase gene (a G to A mutation) and microsomal epoxide hydrolase exon 4 polymorphism (substitution of Arg for His) were significantly associated with lung cancer risk. As lung cancer is a multifactorial disease, an improved understanding of the interplay of environmental and genetic polymorphisms at multiple loci may help identify individuals who are at increased risk for lung cancer. Hopefully, in the future we will be able to screen for lung cancer susceptibility by using specific biomarkers.     

Genetic polymorphisms in XRCC1 gene and susceptibility to glioma in Chinese Han population

Glioma is the most common type of primary brain malignancy in adults. The X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) is an important candidate gene for influencing the pathogenesis of glioma. This study aimed to evaluate the potential association between XRCC1 genetic polymorphisms and glioma susceptibility. This case–control study was conducted in Chinese Han populations consisting of 620 glioma cases and 630 cancer-free controls. XRCC1 genetic polymorphisms were detected by the polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism and verified using DNA sequencing methods. The c.910A>G and c.1779C>G genetic polymorphisms were identified in this study. Our data suggested that the genotypes/alleles of these two genetic polymorphisms were statistically associated with the increased risk of glioma. As for c.910A>G, the risk of glioma for genotype GG was significantly higher than wild genotype AA (odds ratio (OR) = 1.98, 95 % confidence interval (CI) 1.33–2.94, P = 0.001). As for c.1779C>G, the genotype GG was statistically associated with the increased risk of glioma compared to wild genotype CC (OR = 1.80, 95 % CI 1.17–2.78, P = 0.007). Both of alleles G in c.910A>G and c.1779C>G may contribute to glioma susceptibility (G versus (vs.) A, OR = 1.30, 95 % CI 1.09–1.54, P?=?0.003; G vs. C, OR = 1.19, 95 % CI 1.00–1.42, P = 0.045). Our findings indicate that the c.910A>G and c.1779C>G genetic polymorphisms are associated with the susceptibility to glioma in Chinese Han populations and might be used as molecular markers for evaluating glioma risk.     

Genetic polymorphisms and esophageal cancer risk

The aim of this paper is to review and evaluate, in a comprehensive manner, the published data regarding the contribution of genetic polymorphisms to risk of esophageal cancer, including squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and adenocarcinoma, in humans. All relevant studies available in MEDLINE and published before February 2007 were identified. Studies carried out in humans and that compared esophageal cancer patients with at least 1 standard control group were considered for analysis. One-hundred studies and 3 meta-analyses were identified. Eighty (80%) studies were conducted in Asian countries, particularly China including Taiwan (60 (60%) studies). The most intensively examined genes were those encoding carcinogen metabolic enzymes. The most widely studied gene was GSTM1 (15 studies), followed by ALDH2 (11 studies). ALDH2, MTHFR C677T, CYP1A1 Ile/Val, CYP1A1MspI, CYP2E1, GSTP1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 were examined by meta-analyses and significant relations were found between ALDH2*1*2 and the CYP1A1 Val allele and increased risk of esophageal cancer. In addition, increased risk of esophageal SCC was consistently associated with the ADH2*1*2 and the p53 codon 72 Pro/Pro genotypes. Cohort studies that simultaneously consider multiple genetic and environmental factors possibly involved in esophageal carcinogenesis are needed to ascertain not only the relative contribution of these factors to tumor development but also the contributions of their putative interactions.     

中国人食管癌及肺癌发病风险与p53基因多态性

目的　比较中国北方人对食管癌及肺癌的易感性与p5 3基因第 72密码子多态性的关系。方法　应用序列特异性引物 ,以PCR方法检测 173例食管鳞状上皮癌、98例非小细胞肺癌患者及 136例健康对照者的p5 3基因第 72密码子的基因型。结果　食管癌与肺癌组p5 3等位基因及基因型分布无明显差异。食管癌和肺癌组的Pro等位基因频率明显高于对照组 (P值分别为 0 .0 2 4及0 .0 2 7)。Pro/Arg及Arg/Arg基因型频率在两肿瘤组及对照组差异无显著性 (P >0 .0 5 ) ,而食管癌和肺癌组的Pro/Pro基因型频率明显高于对照组 (P值分别为 0 .0 4 1及 0 .0 2 6 )。Pro纯合子患食管癌与肺癌的风险较Arg纯合子高 2倍左右 [校正比值比分别为 2 .12 (95 %CI=1.13～ 4 .0 1)和 2 .30 (95 %CI =1.13～ 4 .93) ],且与吸烟无协同作用。结论　Pro/Pro基因型为中国北方人患食管癌及肺癌的独立易感因素 ,两种肿瘤的发病可能有共同的遗传基础。     

Association of genetic polymorphisms of N-acetyltransferase 2 and susceptibility to esophageal cancer in north Indian population

Esophageal cancer is multifactorial disease involving environmental and genetic risk factors. Tobacco smoke and alcohol are strong environmental risk factors. N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) is known to metabolize heterocyclic amine carcinogens in tobacco smoke. The purpose of this study was to determine whether genetic polymorphism in the NAT2 and their interaction with environmental factors influence the susceptibility for esophageal cancer. For our study, 126 patients and 164 controls were genotyped for NAT2 2 * 5, 2 * 6 and 2 * 7 polymorphisms using PCR-RFLP method. In a case-control study, NAT2 slow acetylator genotype was not significantly associated with risk of esophageal cancer (OR 1.3, 95%CI = 0.78-2.2, P = 0.28). There was significant linkage disequilibrium between 2 * 5-2 * 6 and 2 * 5-2*7 (P < 0.05). Using expectation maximization algorithm, 6 haplotypes were obtained but none of them revealed any significant contribution to disease susceptibility. In case only analysis, the smokers with rapid acetylator were at slightly higher risk of esophageal cancer (OR 1.3, 95%CI = 0.62-3.0, P = 0.43) which was not statistically significant. NAT2 slow or fast genotypes did not affect the risk of esophageal cancer in patients with alcohol consumption or occupational exposure. These results suggest that NAT2 acetylator genotypes did not influence the susceptibility to esophageal cancer. NAT2 polymorphism did not significantly modulate the cancer risk after interaction with environmental factors like tobacco, alcohol or occupational exposure.     

Short tandem repeat polymorphism in a novel esophageal cancer-related gene (ECRG2) implicates susceptibility to esophageal cancer in Chinese population

We have previously cloned and identified a novel esophageal cancer related gene 2 (ECRG2; GenBank Accession Number AF268198), which is down-regulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and involved in the induction of the apoptosis in esophageal cancer cell lines. In the present study, we have found a short tandem repeat (STR) polymorphism in the noncoding region of the exon 4 of the ECRG2 gene by using PCR-denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC). Three STR genotypes, TCA3/TCA3, TCA3/TCA4 and TCA4/TCA4 were revealed and confirmed by DNA sequencing analysis. A total of 661 objects including 228 patients with ESCC and 373 normal controls were analyzed to investigate the impact of this ECRG2 STR polymorphism on risk of ESCC in case-control studies. Genotypes were determined in 231 controls and 162 cases from Beijing, which is a low risk area of ESCC, and in 142 controls and 126 cases from Linxian, a well-known high-risk area of ESCC. In both of the Beijing and Linxian population, subjects who carried the TCA3/TCA3 genotype were at an increased risk of ESCC compared to those carrying the TCA4/TCA4 genotype, with the adjusted odds ratios (ORs) being 2.05 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02-4.06] for the subjects from Beijing and 4.40 (95% CI, 1.93-10.01) for the subjects from Linxian. Furthermore, comparison of the genotype distributions among other cancer sites might suggest that risk of the ECRG2 STR polymorphism might be specific to the esophagus. These findings indicate for the first time that the ECRG2 STR is a genetic susceptibility factor for ESCC and the TCA3/TCA3 allele might play a role in the development of this cancer.     

GSTM1基因多态性和膀胱癌遗传易感性关系

目的：探讨谷胱甘肽转移酶（GSTMl）基因多态性与膀胱癌遗传易感性的关系。方法：采用面访填写调查表，以PCR技术、病例一对照研究方法，对252例病理证实原发膀胱移行细胞癌患者和320例健康对照者的GSTM1基因型进行检测。结果：膀胱癌患者GSTM1缺失基因型频率为45．2％。对照组为30．9％，两组比较差别有显著性意义（P〈0．05），OR值为1．89（95％CI=1．28～4．40）。吸烟者中，患者组GSTM1缺失基因型频率为66．2％，对照组为27．3％，差别显著（P〈0．01），OR值为8．9（95％CI=5．36～14．82）。同时憋屎及有家族肿瘤史也能增加患膀胱癌的危险性，但多饮牛奶则能降低膀胱癌的危险性，而水果摄入多少与膀胱癌发生危险性无统计学意义。结论：GSTM1基因多态性与膀胱癌易感性有关，该基因多态性与吸烟在膀胱癌的发生发展中起协同作用。     

Genetic polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and susceptibility to colorectal cancer

Objectives: To study the relation between genetic polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T or A1298C and the susceptibility of colorectal cancer. Methods: We conducted a case-control study with 315 cases of colorectal cancer and 371 population-based controls in Jiangsu province, China. The epidemiological data were collected, and DNA of peripheral blood leukocytes was obtained from all of the subjects. MTHFR C677T and A1298C genotypes were detected by the PCR-RFLP method. Results: (1) When men and women were assessed together, the frequencies of the MTHFR C677T and A1298 genotypes or their alleles were not significantly different between controls and colon cancer or rectal cancer cases. No significant relation was observed between MTHFR C677T or A1298C polymorphisms and colon or rectal cancer susceptibility. (2) Among males, individuals who had MTHFR C677T T/T genotype were at a significantly higher risk of developing colon cancer (age-, residence-, smoking-, alcohol drinking-, tea consumption-adjusted OR=2.15, 95%CI: 1.07-4.33) compared with those who had C677T C allele. Individuals who had C677T T/T and A1298C A/A genotypes were at an increased risk of developing colon cancer (adjusted OR=2.64, 95%CI: 1.20-5.81) compared with those with C677T C allele and A1298C A/A genotypes among males. On the contrary, individuals who had C677T T/T and A1298C A/A genotypes were at an decreased risk of developing rectal cancer (adjusted OR=0.47, 95%CI: 0.22-1.03). Conclusions: These results in the present study suggested that polymorphisms of the MTHFR C677T could influence susceptibility to colon or rectal cancer and that there was a coordinated effect between MTHFR A1298C A/A and C677T T/T genotypes among males.     

Genetic polymorphisms in centrobin and Nek2 are associated with breast cancer susceptibility in a Chinese Han population

Centrosome aberrations have been suggested to cause chromosomal instability and aneuploidy, and eventually promote cancer development. The Centrobin and Nek2 proteins interact with each other and both are involved in centrosome duplication and chromosome segregation. This study aimed to investigate whether genetic polymorphisms in these two genes may affect breast cancer susceptibility in Chinese Han population using a haplotype-based analysis. Five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in centrobin and four SNPs in Nek2 were genotyped in 1,215 cases of infiltrating ductal breast cancer and 1,215 age-matched cancer-free controls from Chinese Han population. The results showed that CATCG haplotype of centrobin was strongly associated with decreased breast cancer risk (adjusted OR = 0.14, 95 % CI = 0.09–0.22), which was mainly driven by the C allele of SNP rs11650083 (A>C, located in exon 12, resulting in Pro578Gln). None of the individual SNPs in Nek2 was associated with breast cancer risk. However, haplotype GTAT of Nek2 was associated with increased risk of breast cancer (adjusted OR = 1.56, 95 % CI = 1.18–2.06) and its risk was significantly elevated among women with both family history of cancer and a longer menarche-first full-term pregnancy (FFTP) interval (>11 years) (adjusted OR = 5.31, 95 % CI = 1.97–14.32). Furthermore, women harboring both at-risk haplotype GTAT of Nek2 and protective haplotype CATCG of centrobin were linked with decreased breast cancer risk, suggesting that the association between genetic variants of Nek2 and increased breast cancer risk was modified by genetic variants of centrobin. Our results indicate that genetic polymorphisms of centrobin and Nek2 are related to breast cancer susceptibility in Chinese Han women.     

Genetic polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene Ala222Val and susceptibility to ovary cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Many studies have reported the role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene Ala222Val polymorphism with ovary cancer risk, but the results remained controversial. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to assess the association between MTHFR Ala222Val polymorphism and ovary cancer risk. A total of 8 studies including 3,723 cases and 4,001 controls were also involved in this meta-analysis. When all the eligible studies were pooled into this meta-analysis, no significant association between ovary cancer risk and MTHFR Ala222Val polymorphism was found in all genetic models [codominant model: OR?=?0.980, 95 % CI?=?0.756–1.270, P _h?=?0.088, P?=?0.877; dominant model: OR?=?1.022, 95 % CI?=?0.864–1.208, P _h?=?0.033, P?=?0.803; recessive model: OR?=?1.050, 95 % CI?=?0.803–1.373, P _h?=?0.032, P?=?0.723; allele comparison model: OR?=?1.028, 95 % CI?=?0.898–1.178, P _h?=?0.012, P?=?0.685]. In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, no evidence of any associations of this polymorphism with ovary cancer was found in the Caucasian populations. Our meta-analysis supports that the MTHFR Ala222Val polymorphism is not contributed to the risk of ovary cancer from currently available evidence.     

Genetic polymorphisms of drug-metabolizing enzymes and susceptibility to oral cavity cancer

We investigated the association of polymorphisms of drug-metabolizing enzymes and susceptibility to oral cavity cancer. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based analyses were performed on genomic DNA of 94 Caucasian patients in Germany and 92 healthy German controls to determine genotypes of polymorphisms in CYP1A1, GSTM1 and NAT2. For CYP1A1, the homozygous mutant genotype Val/Val did not occur. The heterozygous genotype Ile/Val (6.5% cases versus 4.3% controls) and the homozygous wild-type Ile/Ile (95.7% cases versus 93.5% controls) showed no statistically significant differences between groups (X(2)=0.47; P=0.534, Fisher's exact test, two-sided). The GSTM1 homozygous null genotype occurred more frequently in cancer patients (59.6%) compared to controls (53.3%) but this difference remained insignificant in X(2)-analysis (X(2)=1.07; P=0.587). Almost identical genotype distributions between cases and controls were found for all three NAT2 acetylators. Hence, these three genetic polymorphisms are unlikely to be associated with oral cavity cancer in the population studied.     

细胞色素P450 2E1和谷胱甘肽转硫酶P1基因与食管癌易患性

目的研究与致癌物亚硝胺代谢激活有关的细胞色素Ｐ４５０２Ｅ１基因（ＣＹＰ２Ｅ１）,和与致癌物代谢解毒有关的谷胱甘肽转硫酶Ｐ１基因（ＧＳＴＰ１）多型性与食管癌易患性的关系。方法采用病例－对照分子流行病学方法。以ＰＣＲ－ＲＦＬＰ方法分析食管癌、食管上皮重度增生病例,和与其年龄性别配对的正常对照者（各４５例）ＣＹＰ２Ｅ１和ＧＳＴＰ１的基因型。结果ＧＳＴＰ１基因型在病例和对照者中的分布无显著差别,但ＲｓａＩ识别的ＣＹＰ２Ｅ１基因型,在食管癌、食管上皮重度增生病例及其正常对照者中的分布差别显著。ＣＹＰ２Ｅ１突变型基因频率在正常对照组中为５５．６％,显著高于食管上皮重度增生病例（１７．８％）和食管癌病例（２０．０％;χ２＝２０．８,Ｐ＜０．００１）;携带野生型ＣＹＰ２Ｅ１的个体,发生食管上皮重度增生和食管癌的危险性,比携带变异型ＣＹＰ２Ｅ１的个体各高５倍。结论ＣＹＰ２Ｅ１基因是涉及食管癌变早期过程的遗传易患性因素。     

Genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer: a review

A genetic component in prostate cancer has been recognized since decades. Through numerous epidemiological and molecular biological studies, much evidence has accumulated in favor of a significant but heterogeneous hereditary component in prostate cancer (PCa) susceptibility. Since the mapping of a high-penetrant PCa susceptibility locus at 1q24–25, much attention has been paid to the identification of PCa susceptibility genes. So far, seven loci have been mapped, and at three of these loci, genes have been cloned and mutations identified. Yet their role in hereditary and sporadic disease is still under debate and probably very modest. Although research on hereditary prostate cancer has improved our knowledge of the genetic etiology of the disease, still a lot of questions remain unanswered. Here, we aim to review the genetic epidemiological and molecular biological research in the field of hereditary prostate cancer and the problems that are encountered with this research.     

Genetic polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) and susceptibility to gastric cancer: a meta-analysis

The association between glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) polymorphism and gastric cancer risk has been both confirmed and refuted in a number of published studies. Most of these studies were based on small sample sizes. We carried out a meta-analysis of the research published up to August 2005 to obtain more precise estimates of gastric cancer risk associated with GSTT1 polymorphism. In the present study, 16 case-control studies (with a total of 6717 subjects) were eligible for meta-analysis. There was no evidence of heterogeneity between the studies. The GSTT1 null genotype conferred a 1.06-fold increased risk of gastric cancer, which was not significant (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.94-1.19). However, in the analysis of ethnic groups, we observed distinct differences associated with GSTT1 status. Restricting analyses to ethnic groups, the pooled odd ratios for the GSTT1 genotype were 1.27 in Caucasians (95% CI: 1.03-1.57) and 0.98 in Asians (95% CI: 0.86-1.13). Glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and GSTT1 are involved in detoxification of a variety of compounds, some that overlap between enzymes and some that are highly specific. To investigate whether the profile of glutathione S-transferase genotypes was associated with risk of gastric cancer, further analyses combining the GSTT1 and GSTM1 genotypes were also carried out. There was a significant trend in risk associated with zero, one and two putative high-risk genotypes (chi2 = 9.326, d.f. = 1, P = 0.0023). Those who had null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 had an increased gastric cancer risk compared with those who had both active genes (odds ratio = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.42-3.10).     

Rapid detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms related with lung cancer susceptibility of Chinese population

Genetic variations have been thought to contribute to individual differences in lung cancer susceptibility. In our study, the possibility of an association of CYP1B1, GSTP1 and hOGG1 genetic polymorphisms with lung cancer was investigated in Chinese population of Nanjing, by a new single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing approach of di-allele-specific-amplification with artificially modified primers (diASA-AMP) technique. A matched case-control study of 227 patients with lung cancer was conducted to detect CYP1B1 Leu432Val, GSTP1 Ile105Val and hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphisms. Genotypes were analyzed by diASA-AMP technique. Results did not show a significant difference in distributions of allele frequencies or genotypes of CYP1B1, GSTP1 and hOGG1 between two groups. However, stratifying on smoking status demonstrated that CYP1B1 432Val genotype had a slightly combined effect on lung cancer with smoker subjects (OR=2.78, 95%CI=1.46-5.29). The interaction between GSTP1 105Val mutation and smoking in the development of lung cancer were not detected, nor was hOGG1 326Cys mutation. Variant allele frequencies of CYP1B1, GSTP1 and hOGG1 in control group were similar to other reports of Chinese population. The sequencing results of CYP1B1, GSTP1 and hOGG1 matched the ones of diASA-AMP technique. CYP1B1 432Val polymorphism may modulate the individual susceptibility of lung cancer among smokers in Chinese population. GSTP1 Ile105Val and hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphisms were not found to be risk factors of lung cancer in this study. The method diASA-AMP is rapid, specific and cost-effective. It can be used for rapid detection of the genes related with tumor susceptibility of population.     

中国汉族人群前列腺癌易感性与TLR4基因单核苷酸多态性的研究

目的 探讨Asp299Gly(rs4986790)、Thr399Ile(rs4986791)、rs11536889单核苷酸多态性(SNP)与前列腺癌(PCa)易感性和严重程度的关系.方法 采用病例对照研究方法,选取组织学证据确诊的PCa患者96例为PCa组,良性前列腺增生(BPH)患者87例为BPH组,健康者92例为健康对照组.记录研究对象的临床资料并计算Gleason评分,PCR-RFLP法分析各组的基因型.结果 PCa组、BPH组及健康对照组的年龄、前列腺癌家族史所占比例、前列腺特异抗原(PSA)水平比较,差异均有统计学意义(P=0.000);PCa组、BPH组及健康对照组的Asp299Gly和Thr399Ile基因型频率分布比较,差异无统计学意义(P﹥0.05),但3组间rs11536889基因型频率分布比较,差异有统计学意义[PCa组/(BPH组+健康对照组),CC/GC vs GG,OR=2.152,95%CI:1.280~3.618,P﹤0.05];Gleason评分≥7分组GC+CC分布比例高于Gleason评分﹤7分组(OR=2.378,95%CI:1.042~4.427,P﹤0.05).结论 TLR4基因rs11536889 SNP可能与PCa发病和病情严重程度相关.     

鼠双微体同源基因2遗传多态与结直肠癌患病风险的相关性

目的 探讨p53 72 Arg→Pro和鼠双微体同源基因2(MDM2) 309 T→G多态与结直肠癌(CRC)发生发展的关系.方法 采用病例-对照关联研究方法,分析1000例CRC和1300例正常对照中p53 72 Arg→Pro和MDM2 309 T→G的基因型.以多因素Logistic回归模型计算各基因型的比值比(OR)及其95%可信区间(CI).结果 携带MDM2 309 GG或TG基因型者患CRC的风险比TT基因型者显著增高,OR分别为2.06(95%CI为1.62～2.62)和1.31(95%CI为1.06～1.62).p53 72 Arg→Pro多态与CRC风险不相关.两个基因多态联合分析表明,既携带MDM2 309 GG,又携带p53 72 Pro/Pro基因型者,患CRC的OR显著高于携带MDM2 309 TT和p53 72 Pro/Pro基因型者[2.75(95%CI为1.60～4.70)比1.09(95%CI为0.63～1.88);χ2=9.83,P=0.002].结论 MDM2基因的遗传多态可能是CRC的遗传易感性因素.     

GST genetic polymorphisms and lung adenocarcinoma susceptibility in a Chinese population

Lung adenocarcinoma (AC) has been increasing over the last several decades in many countries, including China. Some of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) demonstrate polymorphisms which may play a role in lung AC susceptibility. Our previous study of a Chinese population found the GSTM1 null genotype to be associated with an increased risk of lung AC, and the combination of GSTM1 null genotype and CYP2E1 wild type conferred a significantly elevated risk. Here, we extended the study to investigate the potential role of GSTT1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms in likelihood of development of lung AC, either separately or in combination. This case-control study encompassed 112 cases with lung ACs and 119 age- and gender-matched cancer-free controls from Beijing. The frequencies for the GSTM1 null genotype were 61.6 and 50.4% among cases and controls, and for the GSTT1 null genotype 47.3 and 45.4%, respectively. The distribution of the GSTP1 Ile/Ile, Ile/Val and Val/Val genotypes was 59.8, 39.3 and 0.9% in cases, and 70.6, 28.6 and 0.8% in controls, respectively. No relationship between lung AC and the GSTT1 genotype was observed in the present study, either separately or in combination with the GSTM1 or GSTP1 genotypes. Although separate GSTM1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms were not statistically related to lung AC, the combination of GSTM1 null and GSTP1 Val was significantly associated with an elevated lung AC risk (OR=2.4, 95% CI 1.1-5.1).     

Potentially functional polymorphisms in IL-23 receptor and risk of esophageal cancer in a Chinese population

Interleukin-23 (IL-23)/IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) is essential for Th17 cell-mediated immune response, involved in autoimmune diseases and cancer pathogenesis. Two potentially functional genetic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs; IL-23R rs6682925 T>C and rs1884444 T>G) were found to contribute to cancer susceptibility. In our study, we conducted a case-control study including 1,645 patients with esophageal cancer and 1,694 cancer-free controls in a Chinese population to assess the association between the two SNPs and the risk of esophageal cancer. We found that IL-23R rs6682925 TC/CC and rs1884444 TG/GG variant genotypes were associated with significantly increased risk of esophageal cancer [rs1884444: adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.16, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) =1.01-1.33; rs6682925: adjusted OR = 1.23, 95% CIs = 1.07-1.42], compared to their corresponding wild-type homozygotes. Furthermore, the increased risks associated with the two SNPs were independent from smoking and alcohol drinking status. These findings indicated that genetic variants in IL-23R may contribute to esophageal cancer risk in our Chinese population.