Polymorphisms of the FAS and FAS ligand genes associated with risk of cutaneous malignant melanoma.
The FAS/FAS ligand (FASLG) system has a key role in regulating cell growth and thus tumorigenesis. Functional promoter polymorphisms of the FAS and FASLG genes alter the transcriptional activities, but no published study has investigated the role of these polymorphisms in the etiology of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). In a hospital-based, case-control study of 602 non-Hispanic white CMM patients and 603 cancer-free age- and sex-matched control subjects, we genotyped FAS-1377G>A, FAS-670A>G, FASLG-844T>C and FASLG-IVS2nt-124G>A polymorphisms and assessed their respective associations with CMM risk. We found that an increased risk of CMM was associated with the FAS-1377GG [adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.00-1.75 for -1377GG] and -670AA (adjusted OR=1.28; 95% CI=1.00-1.65 for -670AA) genotypes compared to the -1377AA/AG and -670AG/GG genotypes, respectively; an increased risk of CMM was associated with the FASLG-IVS2nt-124AG+GG (OR=1.54; 95% CI=1.18-2.01) genotype compared to the AA genotype, but no evident risk was associated with any of the FAS-844T>C genotypes. In the combined analysis of these four variant alleles, we found that, compared to those having 0-3 variants, those having 4-8 variant alleles had a significantly increased risk for CMM (OR=1.38; 95% CI=1.10-1.73), and this risk was more pronounced in subgroups of old (>50 years) males, and those who were at low risk of sunlight-induced CMM, except for having fair skin colour, moles, dysplastic nevi and a family history of cancer. In conclusion, genetic variants in the FAS and FASLG genes may contribute to the etiology of CMM in the general population, particularly in those with a low risk of sunlight-induced CMM.
Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Chunying
C
Li
Derek
D
Larson
Zhengdong
Z
Zhang
Zhensheng
Z
Liu
Sara S
SS
Strom
Jeffrey E
JE
Gershenwald
Victor G
VG
Prieto
Jeffrey E
JE
Lee
Merrick I
MI
Ross
Paul F
PF
Mansfield
Janice N
JN
Cormier
Madeleine
M
Duvic
Elizabeth A
EA
Grimm
Qingyi
Q
Wei
D000483:Alleles; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D005260:Female; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000235:genetics*
C505661:FASLG protein, human; D053222:Fas Ligand Protein; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors