Genetic polymorphisms of NOS3 are associated with the risk of invasive breast cancer with lymph node involvement

NOS3 Gene Polymorphisms (rs2070744 and rs1799983) and Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: Investigating Associations with Clinical Outcomes

Differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) is the most common endocrine malignancy, with genetic factors playing an important role in its development and progression. This study investigated the association between nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) gene polymorphisms (-786T>C or rs2070744 and Glu298Asp or c.894T>G or rs1799983) and the clinical characteristics and outcomes of DTC, aiming to evaluate their potential as biomarkers for prognosis. A case-control study was conducted, enrolling 172 individuals from the Endocrinology Clinics of Târgu Mureș and Iași, Romania, between 2021 and 2023. This study included 88 patients with DTC and 84 healthy controls, matched for age and sex. DNA was extracted from blood samples, and the NOS3 polymorphisms were genotyped using TaqMan assays. Statistical analysis included chi-square tests with a significance level set at p < 0.05. The distribution of the rs2070744 and rs1799983 polymorphisms showed no significant differences between the patients with DTC and healthy controls (p = 0.387 and p = 0.329, respectively). Furthermore, no significant associations were found between these polymorphisms and key clinical outcomes such as biochemical control, structural control, or loco-regional metastases. Our findings indicate that NOS3 rs2070744 and rs1799983 gene polymorphisms do not significantly influence the clinical outcomes of DTC, suggesting their limited utility as biomarkers for DTC prognosis.

The Relationship Between eNOS Polymorphisms With Age, Smoking, Body Mass Index, and Clinicopathologic Parameters in Patients With Breast Cancer in Comparison With a Control Group

INTRODUCTION

Nitric oxide (NO) is a free radical involved in carcinogenesis and is synthesized by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Genetic changes in the eNOS enzyme affect its activity, and the nitric oxide produced by inhibiting apoptosis can lead to cancer cell proliferation and metastasis. In this study, in addition to investigating the relationship between genetic changes in eNOS gene and the risk of breast cancer, the relationship between genotypes of polymorphisms, age, smoking, body mass index, and clinopathologic parameters was also investigated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Three functional (Intron 4a/b, T786C, and G894T) and 1 tagging (G10T) polymorphisms of the eNOS gene were examined in 203 patients with breast cancer and 203 control subjects, and their genotypes were identified by restriction fragment length polymorphism polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS

The T allele in G10T polymorphism increased the risk of breast cancer by 1.503-fold, whereas allele a in Intron 4, T allele in G894T, and C allele in T786C decreased its risk by 0.678-, 0.440-, and 0.525-fold, respectively. GG, GT (G10T), bb and ab (Intron4), GG and TT (G894T), and TT and CC (T786C) genotypes were significantly correlated with body mass index. There was a significant relationship between age and bb genotype, cigarette smoking and genotype ab (Intron 4), and estrogen receptor and GG (G10T) genotype. Tumor invasion factor was also significantly associated with TT (G10T), bb (Intron 4), and TT (T786C) genotypes.

CONCLUSION

Genetic changes in eNOS appear to have a dual role in breast cancer rate owing to changes in NO production and can be introduced as one of the genetic markers involved in breast cancer by evaluating the genotype of different populations.

Involvement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene variants in the aggressiveness of uterine cervical cancer

To date, few studies explore the involvement of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene variants in uterine cervical cancer. Therefore, we conducted this study to assess the clinical implication of eNOS in cervical carcinogenesis, clinicopathological characteristics and patient survival. One hundred and seventeen patients with cervical invasive cancer and 95 with preinvasive lesions and 330 control women were consecutively enrolled. Real time polymerase chain reaction was used to examine the genotypic distributions of eNOS single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs1799983 (894G>T) at the exon 7 region and rs2070744 (-786T>C) at the promoter region. Our results indicated no significant associations among genotypic distributions of eNOS SNPs and patients with cervical invasive cancer and those with preinvasive lesions as well as normal controls. However, cervical cancer patients with genotypes TC/CC in eNOS SNP rs2070744 carried less risk of advanced stage [odds ratios (OR) = 0.30, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.09-0.97, p=0.036], parametrium invasion (OR=0.16, 95% CI=0.02-0.75, p=0.009) and pelvic lymph node metastasis (OR=0.12, 95% CI=0.01-0.89, p=0.016). In conclusion, although eNOS SNPs rs2070744 and rs1799983 do not display significant associations with cervical carcinogenesis and patient survival, cervical cancer patients with genotypes TC/CC in rs2070744 carry less risk of advanced stage, parametrium invasion and pelvic lymph node metastasis in Taiwan.

Effects of eNOS gene polymorphisms on individual susceptibility to cancer: A meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Whether endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms are implicated in cancer development remains controversial. Therefore, we performed this study to obtain a more conclusive result on associations between eNOS polymorphisms and cancer.

METHODS

Literature retrieve was conducted in PubMed, Medline and Embase. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated.

RESULTS

Forty-one studies were enrolled for analyses. Pooled overall analyses showed that rs1799983 (dominant model: p = 0.01; recessive model: p = 0.007; allele model: p = 0.005), rs2070744 (recessive model: p = 0.004) and rs869109213 (recessive model: p < 0.0001; allele model: p = 0.02) polymorphisms were all significantly associated with individual susceptibility to cancer. Further subgroup analyses revealed that rs2070744 and rs869109213 polymorphisms were only significantly associated with individual susceptibility to cancer in Caucasians, whereas the rs1799983 polymorphism was significantly associated with individual susceptibility to cancer in both Caucasians and Asians.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings indicated that rs1799983, rs2070744 and rs869109213 polymorphisms may serve as genetic biomarkers of cancer in certain ethnicities.

Contribution of Nitric oxide synthase 3 genetic variants to nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk and progression in a Tunisian population

PURPOSE

We conduct this study to evaluate the clinical and functional impact of Nitric Oxide Synthase 3 (NOS3) T-786C and G894T genetic variants on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) risk and progression in a Tunisian population.

METHODS

259 NPC patients and 169 healthy controls were enrolled into our case-control study. Blood samples were genotyped by the RFLP-PCR analysis. The levels of Nitric oxide (NO) were measured by a colorimetric assay kit in the plasma of NPC patients, healthy controls and according to NOS3 genotypes. The correlation between the NOS3 variants and the clinicopathological parameters was examined.

RESULTS

We found no linkage disequilibrium between NOS3 T-786C and G894T variants. These results showed that NOS3 variants were genetically independent. In contrast to NOS3 T-786C, a significant association was found between NOS3 G894T polymorphism and NPC risk. The 894T allele decreased significantly in NPC patients and appeared as protective factor (OR = 0.65, CI 95%= 0.48-0.88, p = 0.006). NPC patients had significantly higher levels of plasma NO as compared to healthy controls (p = 0.0011). The T-786C mutation reduced the levels of plasma NO and decreased risk of lymph node metastasis in NPC patients (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.43-0.96; p = 0.03). In contrast, NOS3 G894T polymorphism had no effects neither on NO plasma levels nor clinical parameters.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to associate NPC with significantly higher levels of plasma NO. NOS3-derived NO could play key roles in NPC pathogenesis. NOS3 variants differently contribute to NPC risk and progression in a Tunisian population. NOS3 G894T was associated with NPC risk. NOS3 T-786C decreased the levels of plasma NO and reduced the development of regional lymph node metastasis.

Genetic Modifiers of the Breast Tumor Microenvironment

Multiple nonmalignant cell types in the tumor microenvironment (TME) impact breast cancer risk, metastasis, and response to therapy, yet most heritable mechanisms that influence TME cell function and breast cancer outcomes are largely unknown. Breast cancer risk is ∼30% heritable and >170 genetic loci have been associated with breast cancer traits. However, the majority of candidate genes have poorly defined mechanistic roles in breast cancer biology. Research indicates that breast cancer risk modifiers directly impact cancer cells, yet it is equally plausible that some modifier alleles impact the nonmalignant TME. The objective of this review is to examine the list of current breast cancer candidate genes that may modify breast cancer risk and outcome through the TME.

Screening of FOXD3 targets in lung cancer via bioinformatics analysis

The purpose of the present study was to explore the targets of forkhead box D3 (FOXD3) in lung cancer, and thus contribute to the diagnosis and therapy of the disease. The gene expression profile of GSE64513 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. The dataset contained 3 FOXD3 knockout A549 lung cancer cell samples and 3 normal A549 cell samples. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the FOXD3-knockout and normal A549 cells were identified using the limma package in R. The alternative splicing genes (ASGs) in FOXD3-knockout samples were identified by Replicate Multivariate Analysis of Transcript Splicing software. The Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery was used to identify the enriched functions and pathways of DEGs and ASGs. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed based on results from the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes database and visualized using Cytoscape software. A total of 1,853 DEGs and 2,249 ASGs were identified in FOXD3-knockout A549 cells compared with normal A549 cells. The DEGs were enriched in 338 Gene Ontology (GO) terms and 21 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways, and the ASGs were enriched in 470 GO terms and 22 KEGG pathways. A total of 199 overlaps between the DEGs and the ASGs were identified; a PPI network constructed based on the overlapping genes contained 97 nodes and 115 pairs. FOXD3 may serve an important role in regulating the growth, migration and proliferation of tumor cells in lung cancer. The present study indicates that a number of genes, including AURKA and NOS3, may be targets of FOXD3, mediating its effect in lung cancer.

Distinct role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms from menopausal status in the patients with sporadic breast cancer in Taiwan

Breast cancer has a high incidence in Taiwanese women and worldwide. Previous studies have indicated that NO has multiple independent roles in carcinogenesis; genetic polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene could modify its transcription and endogenous NO production. Previous studies have reported conflicting results for the relationship between polymorphisms in the eNOS gene and breast cancer risk. Estrogen levels are associated with eNOS expression; accordingly, variation in estrogen levels may contribute to the discordant results. Therefore, in this study, the effects of eNOS polymorphisms on breast cancer susceptibility were examined in terms of menopausal status in Taiwanese women. Three eNOS polymorphisms (-786T > C, VNTR, and 894G > T) were genotyped in 283 patients with breast cancer (139 premenopausal and 144 postmenopausal) and 200 cancer-free controls (100 premenopausal and 100 postmenopausal) by PCR-RFLP. There was a significantly higher breast cancer risk in premenopausal women carrying 894G > T T than in those with the 894G > T GG genotype; however, postmenopausal women carrying 894G > T T had a lower risk of developing breast cancer. In addition, based on a binary logistic regression analysis, interaction effects of these polymorphisms differed according to menopausal status. The relationship between eNOS polymorphisms and breast cancer hazard depended on menopause status, especially for the 894G > T polymorphism, which may provide an explanation for previous conflicting results.

G894T and 4a/b polymorphisms of NOS3 gene are not associated with cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS or NOS3) produces nitric oxide and genetic polymorphisms of NOS3 gene play significant roles in various processes of carcinogenesis. The results from published studies on the association between NOS3 G894T and NOS3 intron 4 (4a/b) polymorphisms and cancer risk are conflicting and inconclusive. However, i n order to assess this relationship more precisely, a meta-analysis was performed with PubMed (Medline), EMBASE and Google web searches until February 2014 to select all published case- control and cohort studies. Genotype distribution data were collected to calculate the pooled odd ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to evaluate the strength of association. A total of 10,546 cancer cases and 10,550 controls were included from twenty four case-control studies for the NOS3 G894T polymorphism. The results indicated no significant association with cancer risk as observed in allelic (T vs G: OR=1.024, 95%CI=0.954 to 1.099, p=0.508), homozygous (TT vs GG: OR=1.137, 95%CI=0.944 to 1.370, p=0.176), heterozygous (GT vs GG: OR=0.993, 95%CI=0.932 to 1.059, p=0.835), recessive (TT vs GG+GT: OR=1.100, 95%CI=0.936 to 1.293, p=0.249) and dominant (TT+GT vs GG: OR=1.012, 95%CI=0.927 to 1.105, p=0.789) genetic models. Similarly, a total of 3,449 cancer cases and 3,691 controls were recruited from fourteen case-control studies for NOS3 4a/b polymorphism. Pooled results indicated no significant association under allelic (A vs B: OR=0.981, 95%CI=0.725 to 1.329, p=0.902), homozygous (AA vs BB: OR=1.166, 95%CI=0.524 to 2.593, p=0.707), heterozygous (BA vs BB: OR=1.129, 95%CI=0.896 to 1.422, p=0.305), dominant (AA+BA vs BB: OR=1.046, 95%CI=0.779 to 1.405, p=0.763) and recessive (AA vs BB+BA: OR=1.196, 95%CI=0.587 to 2.439, p=0.622) genetic contrast models. This meta-analysis suggests that G894T and 4a/b polymorphisms of NOS3 gene are not associated with increased or decreased risk of overall cancer.

Polymorphisms in oxidative stress-related genes are associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma susceptibility

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a complex multifactorial disorder involving both genetic and environmental factors. Polymorphisms of genes encoding nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and antioxidant glutathione-S transferases (GSTs) have been associated with various tumors. We examined the combined role of NOS3, NOS2 and GST polymorphisms in NPC risk in Tunisians. We found that NOS3−786C allele and −786 CC genotype, NOS3+894T allele and +894 GT+TT genotypes, NOS2−277 G allele and −277 GG genotype, and GSTT1 del/del genotype, are more prevalent in NPC patients as compared to healthy controls. Our results suggest that genetically driven dysfunction in red–ox stress pathway could augment the risk in NPC-susceptible individuals.

eNOS Genetic Polymorphisms and Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis and a Case-Control Study of Breast Cancer

The association between endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) polymorphisms (intron 4a/b, -786T>C and 894G>T) and cancer risk remains elusive. In addition, no studies focused on their associations with the risk of breast cancer in Chinese Han population. Thus, a meta-analysis was conducted to determine the relationship between eNOS polymorphisms and cancer risk, and then a case-control study in Chinese Han population was performed to assess their associations with breast cancer susceptibility.Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of association. The pooled analysis indicated that eNOS intron 4a/b and -786T>C polymorphisms were significantly associated with an increased risk of overall cancer. In subgroup analyses based on cancer type, the significant association was found between eNOS intron 4a/b polymorphism and prostate cancer risk, eNOS -786T>C polymorphism and risk of prostate, bladder and breast cancers, and eNOS 894G>T polymorphism and breast cancer risk. In subgroup analyses based on ethnicity, eNOS intron 4a/b and -786T>C polymorphisms were associated with an increased risk of cancer in Caucasians. In consistent with our meta-analysis results, a case-control study in Chinese Han population showed significant associations of eNOS -786T>C and 894G>T polymorphisms with the increased risk of breast cancer. In addition, stratified analyses based on pathological type showed that eNOS 894G>T polymorphism was only associated with the risk of infiltrative ductal carcinoma. Stratified analyses by tumor stage showed that eNOS -786T>C polymorphism was only associated with the risk of tumor stage III and IV.In conclusion, our meta-analysis and case-control study suggest that eNOS -786T>C and 894G>T polymorphisms are associated with the increased risk of breast cancer.

Association between three eNOS polymorphisms and cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Polymorphisms in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene may influence the risk of cancer, but the results are still debatable. Therefore, we performed a systematic review to provide a more complete picture and conducted a meta-analysis to derive a precise estimation. We searched PubMed, EMBASE, EBSCO, Google Scholar and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases until April 2014 to identify eligible studies. Thirty-one studies with cancer patients and controls were included in the meta-analysis. Overall, the polled analysis revealed that the T-786C polymorphism was significantly associated with increased cancer risk under multiple genetic models (C vs T: OR=1.135, 95%CI=1.048-1.228; CC vs TT: OR=1.278, 95%CI=1.045- 1.562; TC vs TT: OR=1.136, 95%CI=1.023-1.261; CC+TC vs TT: OR=1.159, 95%CI=1.047-1.281; CC vs TC+TT: OR=1.204, 95%CI= 1.003-1.447). G894T was associated with significant risk for females (TT vs GG: OR=1.414, 95%CI=1.056-1.892; TT vs GT+GG: OR=1.356, 95%CI=1.108-1.661) and for breast cancer (T vs G: OR=1.097, 95%CI=1.001-1.203; TT vs GG: OR=1.346, 95%CI=1.012-1.789; TT vs GT+GG: OR=1.269, 95%CI=1.028-1.566). Increased susceptibility was revealed for prostate cancer with 4a/b (ba vs bb: OR=1.338, 95%CI=1.013-1.768; aa+ba vs bb: OR=1.474, 95%CI=1.002-2.170). This meta-analysis indicated that the eNOS T-786C polymorphism is associated with elevated cancer risk; the G894T polymorphism contributes to susceptibility to breast cancer and cancer generally in females; and the 4a/b polymorphism may be associated with prostate cancer risk.

The G894t, T-786c and 4b/a polymorphisms in Enos gene and cancer risk: a meta-analysis

OBJECTIVE

Published results on association between eNOS polymorphisms and cancer risk are conflicting. We aimed to investigate the association and give an overall understanding of possible risk role of eNOS.

METHOD

We searched PubMed and EMbase databases. The pooled ORs and 95% CIs for the association between eNOS polymorphisms and cancer risk was estimated using fixed- or random- effect model. Subgroup and sensitivity analyses were employed for further analysis.

RESULTS

The Overall results showed no significant association of G894T polymorphism with cancer susceptibility (T vs. G: OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.07; TT+GT vs. GG: OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.96 to 1.09; TT vs. GT+GG: OR 1.05, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.17). For the T-786C polymorphism, pooled OR under recessive model suggested that CC genotype was significantly associated with increased cancer risk (CC vs. TC+TT: OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.57). For the 4b/a polymorphism, pooled OR for recessive model suggested positive result of 4a/4a genotype (aa vs. ba+bb: OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.11 to 2.43). In subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significant association was found in Caucasians in recessive model but not in Asians for T-786C and 4b/a, respectively. In subgroup analysis by cancer types, significant result was obtained for breast cancer in recessive model for the T-786C polymorphism.

CONCLUSION

The eNOS G894T polymorphism may not be a major risk factor for most types of cancers. The CC of T-786C polymorphism and 4a/4a of 4b/a polymorphism are associated with cancer risk, especially in Caucasians. There is significant association between T786C polymorphism and breast cancer risk. More data are needed to verify these results.

Possible relation between the NOS3 gene GLU298ASP polymorphism and bladder cancer in Turkey

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), encoded by the NOS3 gene, has been suggested to play an important role in uncontrolled cell growth in several cancer types. The objective of this study was to evaluate the role of the NOS3 Glu298Asp polymorphism in bladder cancer susceptibility in a Turkish population. We determined the genotypes of 66 bladder cancer cases and 88 healthy controls. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. A significant association for NOS3 Glu298Asp heterozygotes genotypes and T allely were found between healthy controls and bladder cancer, respectively (p<0.001: p=0.002). There were no significant associations between any genotypes and the stage, grade, and histological type of bladder cancer. Our study suggested an increased risk role of NOS3 GT genotype in bladder cancer susceptibility in our Turkish population.

Combined effects of antioxidant vitamin and NOS3 genetic polymorphisms on breast cancer risk in women

BACKGROUND & AIMS

It is becoming increasingly clear that there is wide heterogeneity in genetic predisposition to breast cancer and that breast cancer risk is determined by interactive effect between genetic and environmental factors.

METHODS

We investigated the combined effects of antioxidant vitamin intake and NOS3 genetic polymorphisms on breast cancer risk in a Korean population (Seoul Breast Cancer Study). Histologically confirmed breast cancer cases (n = 512) and age, menopause status-matched controls (n = 512) with no present or previous history of cancer were recruited from several teaching hospitals in Seoul during 2001-2003. Two genetic polymorphisms of NOS3 (298G > T and -786 T > C) were assessed by single base extension assays.

RESULTS

No overall association between the individual NOS3 genotypes or diplotypes and breast cancer risk was found, although the difference between cases and controls in the frequency of the NOS3 894 G > T polymorphism showed borderline significance (OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.52-1.06). There was no significant difference in energy intake or the intake of antioxidant vitamins between cases and controls, with the exception of vitamin E (OR = 0.49 lowest vs. highest quartile, P(trend) < 0.01). On the other hand, our results suggest that antioxidant vitamin intake may modify the effects of the NOS3 -786 T > C or 894 G > T genetic polymorphisms on breast cancer risk. Although a multiplicative interaction was not observed, the protective effect of β-carotene intake on breast cancer risk was observed predominantly in individuals with the TG:TG diplotype of NOS3 (OR = 0.68) but not observed with others diplotype. An inverse association between vitamin E intake and breast cancer risk was observed for individuals with the NOS3 786 TC + TT genotype and the NOS3 894 GG genotype. In addition, folic acid had a protective effect in the NOS3 786 TT and NOS3 894 GT + TT genotype.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that intake of antioxidant vitamins might modify the association between genetic polymorphisms of NOS3 and breast cancer risk.

The association between two polymorphisms of eNOS and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide. Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays a key role in breast cancer development. The associations between the two eNOS polymorphisms (E298D rs1799983, -786T>C rs2070744) and breast cancer risk are inconclusive. A meta-analysis was performed in this study. By searching Medline, ISI Web of Knowledge, ScienceDirect, EBSCO, CNKI, and SinoMed database, six case-control studies were collected for the eNOS E298D polymorphism (3,038 cases and 2,508 controls) and three case-control studies were eligible for the eNOS -786T>C polymorphism. Crude ORs with 95% CIs were used to assess the strength of association between the two eNOS polymorphisms and breast cancer risk. The pooled ORs were performed for codominant model, dominant model, and recessive model, respectively. Overall, significantly decreased risk was observed for E298D (for EE vs. DD: OR = 0.74, 95% CI = 0.59-0.94; for ED vs. DD: OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.61-0.98; for dominant model: OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.61-0.96) and -786T > C (for TT vs. CC: OR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.42-0.86; for dominant model: OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.47-0.94). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significant decreased risks were found for E298D (for EE vs. DD: OR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.56-0.99) and -786T>C (for TT vs. CC: OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.35-0.81; for dominant model: OR = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.41-0.91; for recessive model: OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.55-0.91) among Caucasians; significant decreased risks were observed for E298D (for ED vs. DD: OR = 0.12, 95% CI = 0.02-0.96; for dominant model: OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.02-1.00) among Asians. In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that both eNOS E298D and -786T>C polymorphisms are associated with reduced breast cancer risk.

Candidate gene approach evaluates association between innate immunity genes and breast cancer risk in Korean women

OBJECTIVES

This study was conducted to investigate the role of common variation in innate immunity-related genes as susceptibility factors to breast cancer risk in Korean women.

METHODS

Total 1536 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 203 genes were analyzed by Illumina GoldenGate assay in 209 cases and the same numbers of controls. Both SNP and gene-based tests were used to evaluate the association with breast cancer risk. The robustness of results was further evaluated with permutation method, false discovery rate and haplotype analyses.

RESULTS

Both SNP and gene-based analyses showed promising associations with breast cancer risk for 17 genes: OR10J3, FCER1A, NCF4, CNTNAP1, CTNNB1, KLKB1, ITGB2, ALOX12B, KLK2, IRAK3, KLK4, STAT6, NCF2, CCL1, C1QR1, MBP and NOS1. The most significant association with breast cancer risk was observed for the OR10J3 SNP (rs2494251, P-value = 1.2 x 10(-4)) and FCER1A SNP (rs7548864, P-value = 7.7 x 10(-4)). Gene-based permutation and false discovery rate P-values for OR10J3 SNP (rs2494251) with breast cancer risk were also significant (P = 4 x 10(-5) and 0.008, respectively). Haplotype analyses supported these findings that OR10J3 and FCER1A were most significantly associated with risk for breast cancer (P = 2 x 10(-4) and 0.004, respectively).

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that common genetic variants in the OR10J3 and FCER1A be strongly associated with breast cancer risk among Korean women.

An intron 4 VNTR polymorphism of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene is associated with early-onset colorectal cancer

Endothelial-derived nitric oxide, which is produced by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), may play an important role in colorectal carcinogenesis. However, the putative contribution of common eNOS genetic polymorphisms to colorectal cancer risk remains unknown. We genotyped 3 polymorphisms of eNOS (T-786C, G894T, and intron4b/a) in 727 colorectal adenocarcinoma cases and 736 age- and sex-matched healthy controls in Taiwan. Genotypes of the T-786C and G894T polymorphisms were determined by fluorescence polarization assays and the 27-bp variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism in intron 4 (intron4b/a) was analyzed by PCR. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Among younger participants (< or =60 yrs), the intron4a variant genotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of colorectal cancer, compared with the intron4bb genotype (OR = 1.60, 95% CI = 1.04-2.46). In addition, those young individuals bearing a greater number of high-risk genotypes (OR > 1, i.e., CT+TT for T-786C, ba+aa for intron4b/a, and GG for G894T) of eNOS had a higher colorectal cancer risk (p(trend) = 0.039). Compared with younger individuals without any putative high-risk genotypes, those with 3 high-risk genotypes had a significantly greater cancer risk (OR = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.04-3.43). Our results suggest that the eNOS intron4b/a polymorphism may contribute to early-onset colorectal cancer risk in the Taiwanese population.

Oxidative stress-related genotypes, fruit and vegetable consumption and breast cancer risk

Dietary antioxidants may interact with endogenous sources of pro- and antioxidants to impact breast cancer risk. A nested case-control study of postmenopausal women (505 cases and 502 controls) from the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort was conducted to examine the interaction between oxidative stress-related genes and level of vegetable and fruit intake on breast cancer risk. Genetic variations in catalase (CAT) (C-262T), myeloperoxidase (MPO) (G-463A), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (NOS3) (G894T) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) [(GT)(n) dinucleotide length polymorphism] were not associated with breast cancer risk. Women carrying the low-risk CAT CC [odds ratio (OR) = 0.75, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.50-1.11], NOS3 TT (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.26-1.12, P-trend = 0.10) or HO-1 S allele and MM genotype (OR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.37-0.55), however, were found to be at non-significantly reduced breast cancer risk among those with high vegetable and fruit intake (> or = median; P-interactions = 0.04 for CAT, P = 0.005 for NOS3 and P = 0.07 for HO-1). Furthermore, those with > or = 4 putative low-risk alleles in total had significantly reduced risk (OR = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.32-0.88, P-interaction = 0.006) compared with those with < or = 2 low-risk alleles. In contrast, among women with low vegetable and fruit intake (< median), the low-risk CAT CC (OR = 1.33, 95% CI = 0.89-1.99), NOS3 TT (OR = 2.93, 95% CI = 1.38-6.22) and MPO AA (OR = 2.09, 95% CI = 0.73-5.95) genotypes appeared to be associated with raised breast cancer risk, with significantly increased risks observed in those with > or = 4 low-risk alleles compared with participants with < or = 2 low-risk alleles (OR = 1.77, 95% CI = 1.05-2.99, P-interaction = 0.006). Our results support the hypothesis that there are joint effects of endogenous and exogenous antioxidants.

Nitric oxide synthase gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk

Nitric oxide (NO) induces cytotoxicity and angiogenesis, and may play a role in prostate carcinogenesis, potentially modulated by environmental exposures. We evaluated the association of prostate cancer with genetic polymorphisms in two genes related to intracellular NO: NOS2A [inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS); -2892T>C, Ex16 + 14C>T (S608L), IVS16 + 88T>G and IVS20 + 524G>A] and NOS3 [endothelial NOS; IVS1-762C>T, Ex7-43C>T (D258D), IVS7-26A>G, Ex8-63G>T (E298D) and IVS15-62G>T]. Prostate cancer cases (n = 1320) from the screening arm of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial were frequency matched to controls (n = 1842), by age, race, time since initial screening and year of blood draw. An antioxidant score [range 3-12; low (3-7) versus high (8-12)] was created by summing the quartile levels of vitamin E, beta-carotene and lycopene, which were coded from 1 to 4, respectively. The global tests for all eight single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (excluding NOS2A-2892T>C, with low minor allele frequency) were statistically significant for prostate cancer (P = 0.005), especially for aggressive cancer (stage III-IV or Gleason score > or = 7) (P = 0.01). The NOS2A IVS16 + 88 GT/TT was associated with increased prostate cancer risk (odds ratio = 1.24, 95% confidence interval = 1.00-1.54), whereas the IVS20 + 524 AG/GG was associated with decreased risk (0.77, 0.66-0.90). The NOS3 IVS7-26GG was associated with increased prostate cancer risk (1.33, 1.07-1.64). All these SNPs showed significant associations with aggressive cancer and not for non-aggressive cancer. In the evaluation of effect modification, the effect of the NOS2A IVS16 + 88 GT/TT on aggressive cancer was stronger among subjects with higher antioxidant intake (1.61, 1.18-2.19; P(interaction) = 0.01). Our results suggest that NOS gene polymorphisms are genetic susceptibility factors for aggressive prostate cancer.