No association with risk for colorectal cancer of the insertion/deletion polymorphism which affects levels of angiotensin-converting enzyme.
BACKGROUND
In the light of the established association of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) with several types of cancer, the possible contribution of the insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism that affects ACE gene expression, in the development of colorectal cancer was investigated.


METHODS
DNA samples of 92 patients with colorectal cancer (adenocarcinomas) and 102 healthy controls were examined by allele-specific polymerase chain reaction followed by electrophoretic analysis. The resulting allele and genotype frequencies of the patients were compared to those of the controls by Fischer's exact test and odds ratios.


RESULTS
No statistical differences were observed between healthy controls and patients with colorectal cancer regarding either genotype distribution or low expression I allele frequency.


CONCLUSIONS
The ACE I/D polymorphism is not a genetic predisposing factor concerning the risk for colorectal cancer.
Nikiteas
Nikolaos
N
First Department of Surgery, University of Athens Medical School, Laikon General Hospital, Mikras Asias 75, Athens GR-11527, Greece.
Tsigris
Christos
C
Chatzitheofylaktou
Agapi
A
Yannopoulos
Athanasios
A
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000378:metabolism*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors
D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A