Polymorphisms in the Caspase7 gene and the risk of lung cancer.
BACKGROUND
Caspase7 (CASP7) is an executioner CASP that conducted a coordinated program of proteolysis that results in the destruction of critical cell structures, and it plays an important role in the development and progression of cancer. The purpose of this study is to comprehensively evaluate potential functional polymorphisms in the CASP7 gene in relation to the risk of lung cancer.


METHODS
We first captured seven single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the regulating region, exons and exon-intron boundaries of the CASP7 gene using public database and then determined their frequencies in 27 healthy Korean individuals. Next, we examined four SNPs (rs12415607g.C>A; rs11593766g.T>G; rs2227310g.C>G; and rs10787498g.T>C) in a case-control study that consisted of 720 lung cancer patients and 720 healthy controls.


RESULTS
Of the four SNPs studied in the case-control study, only the distribution of the rs2227310g.C>G genotypes differed significantly between the cases and controls (P=0.03). The rs2227310 GG genotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of lung cancer when compared with the rs2227310 CC genotype [adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.05-1.93, P=0.02] and with the combined rs2227310 CC and CG genotype (adjusted OR=1.38, 95% CI=1.05-1.81, P=0.02). Consistent with the results of genotyping analysis, the ATGT haplotype (rs12415607A/rs11593766T/rs2227310G/rs10787498T) was associated with a significantly increased risk of lung cancer when compared to other haplotypes (adjusted OR=1.21, 95% CI=1.04-1.42, P=0.02).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the CASP7 polymorphisms contribute to the genetic susceptibility to lung cancer.
Lee
Won Kee
WK
Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu 700-422, Republic of Korea.
Kim
Jong Sik
JS
Kang
Hyo-Gyoung
HG
Cha
Sung Ick
SI
Kim
Dong Sun
DS
Hyun
Dae Sung
DS
Kam
Sin
S
Kim
Chang Ho
CH
Jung
Tae Hoon
TH
Park
Jae Yong
JY
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D053179:Caspase 7 / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006239:Haplotypes; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
D053179:Caspase 7