title: Genetic variants of the DNA damage repair genes XRCC4 and RAD51 are associated with susceptibility to esophageal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Altered DNA damage repair genes have been demonstrated to contribute to tumorigenesis. This study explored the relationship of genetic polymorphisms of the DNA repair genes XRCC4 and RAD51 to the risk of esophageal cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  Genotyping of XRCC4 G-1394T (rs6869366) and RAD51-G135C by PCR-RFLP analysis was performed on 477 participants, of whom 219 were patients with esophageal cancer; the remaining participants were healthy. Statistical analysis, including Chi(2) test and logistic regression, was used to assess genotypic distributions and their correlation with cancer risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Carriers of the XRCC4 rs6869366 G allele (GT+GG) were at a significantly higher risk of esophageal cancer compared to individuals with the TT genotype [odds ratio (OR)=3.35, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.16-10.24)]. Carriers of the C allele of RAD51 G135C (GC+CC) had a significantly increased risk of esophageal cancer compared to individuals with the GG genotype (OR=2.53, 95%CI: 1.15-6.70). Further, the variant genotypes of XRCC4 and RAD51 interacted to exacerbate the risk of esophageal cancer (OR=8.92, 95%CI: 2.47-38.20).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Variants of the DNA damage repair genes XRCC4 and RAD51 increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng 224001, Jiangsu Province, PR China. Electronic address: sunmzhyan@126.com.
authors.forename: Sun
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ming-Zhong
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng 224001, Jiangsu Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Ju
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hui-Xiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng 224001, Jiangsu Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhong-Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng 224001, Jiangsu Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hao
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Yancheng Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Yancheng 224001, Jiangsu Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rong
mesh_terms: D004249:DNA Damage; D004260:DNA Repair / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C101467:XRCC4 protein, human; C495153:RAD51 protein, human; D051135:Rad51 Recombinase