title: TERT-CLPTM1L Rs401681 C>T polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of esophageal cancer in a Chinese population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Esophageal cancer was the fifth most commonly diagnosed cancer and the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in China in 2009. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) accounts for more than 90 percent of esophageal cancers. Genetic factors probably play an important role in the ESCC carcinogenesis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a hospital based case-control study to evaluate functional hTERT rs2736098 G>A and TERT-CLPTM1L rs401681 C>T single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on the risk of ESCC. Six hundred and twenty-nine ESCC cases and 686 controls were recruited. Their genotypes were determined using the ligation detection reaction (LDR) method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When the TERT-CLPTM1L rs401681 CC homozygote genotype was used as the reference group, the CT genotype was associated with a significantly decreased risk of ESCC (adjusted OR  = 0.74, 95% CI  = 0.58-0.94, p = 0.012); the CT/TT variants were associated with a 26% decreased risk of ESCC (adjusted OR  = 0.74, 95% CI  = 0.59-0.93, P = 0.009). The significantly decreased risk of ESCC associated with the TERT-CLPTM1L rs401681 C>T polymorphism was associated with male sex, young age (<63 years in our study) and alcohol consumption. No association between the hTERT rs2736098 G>A polymorphism and ESCC risk was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TERT-CLPTM1L rs401681 CT and CT/TT genotypes were associated with decreased risk of ESCC, particularly among men, young patients and those reported to be drinkers. However, our results are preliminary conclusions. Larger studies with more rigorous study designs are required to confirm the current findings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.affiliation: Cancer institute, Department of chemotherapy, People's Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Liming
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, The First People's Hospital of Changzhou and The Third Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University, Changzhou, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Xu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Yijun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Aizhong
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shao
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Guowen
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Suocheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Weifeng
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Affiliated People's Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Haiyong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gu
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C422445:CLPTM1L protein, human; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C509186:TERT protein, human; D019098:Telomerase