title: XRCC3 Thr241Met Polymorphism is not Associated with Lung Cancer Risk in a Romanian Population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) repair mechanisms play a critical role in protecting the cellular genome against carcinogens. X-ray cross-complementing gene 3 (XRCC3) is involved in DNA repair and therefore certain genetic polymorphisms that occur in DNA repair genes may affect the ability to repair DNA defects and may represent a risk factor in carcinogenesis. The purpose of our study was to investigate the association between XRCC3 gene substitution of Threonine with Methionine in codon 241 of XRCC3 gene (Thr241Met) polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer, in a Romanian population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 93 healthy controls and 85 patients with lung cancer, all smokers. Thr241Met, XRCC3 gene genotyping was determined by multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistical analysis (OR, recessive model), did not revealed an increased risk for lung cancer, for the variant 241Met allele and Thr241Met genotypes (p=0.138, OR=0.634, CI=0.348-1.157; p=0.023, OR=0.257, CI=0.085-6.824). Also, there were no positive statistical associations between Thr241Met polymorphism of XRCC3 gene, gender, tobacco and various histopathological tumor type of lung cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, the results of the study suggest that the XRCC3 gene Thr241Met polymorphism is not associated with an increased risk for the development of lung cancer in this Romanian group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Andreea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Catana
authors.affiliation: Department of Pneumology, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pop
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Dragos Horea
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Marginean
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Ioana Cristina
authors.initials: IC
authors.lastname: Blaga
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Department, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Mihai Dumitru
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Porojan
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Radu Anghel
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Popp
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Science, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Ioan Victor
authors.initials: IV
authors.lastname: Pop
keywords: Thr241Met polymorphism; XRCC3gene; lung cancer