title: Association between variations in the fat mass and obesity-associated gene and pancreatic cancer risk: a case-control study in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is clear that genetic variations in the fat mass and obesity-associated (FTO) gene affect body mass index and the risk of obesity. Given the mounting evidence showing a positive association between obesity and pancreatic cancer, this study aimed to investigate the relation between variants in the FTO gene, obesity and pancreatic cancer risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a hospital-based case-control study in Japan to investigate whether genetic variations in the FTO gene were associated with pancreatic cancer risk. We genotyped rs9939609 in the FTO gene of 360 cases and 400 control subjects. An unconditional logistic model was used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between rs9939609 and pancreatic cancer risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The minor allele frequency of rs9939609 was 0.18 among control subjects. BMI was not associated with pancreatic cancer risk. Compared with individuals with the common homozygous TT genotype, those with the heterozygous TA genotype and the minor homozygous AA genotype had a 48% (OR=1.48; 95%CI: 1.07-2.04), and 66% increased risk (OR=1.66; 95%CI: 0.70-3.90), respectively, of pancreatic cancer after adjustment for sex, age, body mass index, cigarette smoking and history of diabetes. The per-allele OR was 1.41 (95%CI: 1.07-1.85). There were no significant interactions between TA/AA genotypes and body mass index.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings indicate that rs9939609 in the FTO gene is associated with pancreatic cancer risk in Japanese subjects, possibly through a mechanism that is independent of obesity. Further investigation and replication of our results is required in other independent samples.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Aichi Medical University School of Medicine, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan.
authors.forename: Yingsong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Junko
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ueda
authors.forename: Kiyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yagyu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ueno
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Egawa
authors.forename: Haruhisa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mori
authors.forename: Keitaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: Shogo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D011506:Proteins; D000071516:Alpha-Ketoglutarate-Dependent Dioxygenase FTO; C526492:FTO protein, human