title: Polymorphisms in the epidermal growth factor receptor gene and the risk of primary lung cancer: a case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polymorphisms in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) gene may influence EGFR production and/or activity, thereby modulating susceptibility to lung cancer. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the association between polymorphisms in the EGFR gene and the risk of lung cancer in a Korean population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We first examined the frequencies of 39 candidate polymorphisms in the EGFR gene in 27 healthy Korean individuals. After then, we genotyped five polymorphisms (127378C>T, 142285G>A, 162093G>A, 181946C>T and 187114T>C) that have variant allele frequencies greater than 10%, in 582 lung cancer patients and in 582 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 5 polymorphisms, the 181946C>T genotype distribution was significantly different between the cases and controls (P = 0.04). Compared with the 181946 CC + CT genotype, the 181946 TT genotype was associated with a significantly decreased risk of lung cancer (adjusted OR = 0.63, 95% CI = 0.45-0.88, P = 0.007). When the analyses were stratified by smoking status, the protective effect of the TT genotype was statistically significant in ever-smokers (adjusted OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.41-0.86, P = 0.007), but not in never-smokers (adjusted OR = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.45-1.75, P = 0.73; P = 0.08, test for homogeneity). Consistent with the results of the genotyping analysis, the CGGCT haplotype with the 181946C allele was associated with a significantly increased risk of lung cancer compared to the CGGTT haplotype carrying the 181946T allele (adjusted OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.09-2.07, P = 0.012 and Bonferroni corrected P-value = 0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that the EGFR polymorphisms, particularly the 181945C>T polymorphism, could be used as markers for the genetic susceptibility to lung cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Dong In 2Ga 101, Daegu, 700-422, South Korea. ddochi74@hanmail.net
authors.forename: Jin Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sun Ha
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyung Mee
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Won Kee
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Sin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kam
authors.forename: Sung Ick
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.forename: Chang Ho
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young Mo
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Young-Chul
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sung Beom
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Tae Hoon
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Jung
authors.forename: Jae Yong
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D018288:Carcinoma, Small Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors