title: Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion gene polymorphism in lung cancer patients.
abstract: Lung cancer is a complex disease, and many factors, including environmental and occupational exposure, cigarette smoking, and genetics, contribute to its progression. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is an important regulator of blood pressure and cardiovascular homeostasis. Plasma levels of ACE depend on an insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism in its gene. Current correlation data between lung cancer and the ACE I/D polymorphism are contradictory or insufficient. We investigated whether the ACE I/D polymorphism is associated with a risk for lung cancer development in the Croatian population, representing the first report in a population of Slavic origin. A total of 308 lung cancer patients and 353 control subjects were genotyped for the ACE I/D polymorphism by polymerase chain reaction. The observed distribution of genotypes and alleles showed no significant difference between total patients and controls (p>0.050). However, in a subgroup of nonsmall cell lung cancer patients with squamous cell carcinoma, a significantly higher frequency of the DD genotype (37.7% vs. 27.8%, p=0.030, OR=1.57, 95% CI=1.05-2.36) and D allele was observed compared with the control group (61.3% vs. 52.8%, p=0.015, OR=1.41, 95% CI=1.07-1.87). The DD genotype of ACE may contribute to a higher risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma in the Croatian population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia. sdevic@medri.hr
authors.forename: Sanja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dević Pavlić
authors.forename: Smiljana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ristić
authors.forename: Veljko
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Flego
authors.forename: Miljenko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kapović
authors.forename: Anđelka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Radojčić Badovinac
mesh_terms: D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D017523:Croatia; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054643:INDEL Mutation; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C488034:ACE protein, human; D007703:Peptidyl-Dipeptidase A