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The influence of genetic variability of DNA repair mechanisms on the risk of malignant mesothelioma

Kristina Levpuscek
Kristina Levpuscek
, 
Katja Goricar
Katja Goricar
, 
Viljem Kovac
Viljem Kovac
, 
Vita Dolzan
Vita Dolzan
 and 
Alenka Franko
Alenka Franko
   | Mar 14, 2019
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Article Category: Research Article
Published Online: Mar 14, 2019
Page range: 206 - 212
Received: Feb 06, 2019
Accepted: Feb 25, 2019
DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/raon-2019-0016
© 2019 Kristina Levpuscek, Katja Goricar, Viljem Kovac, Vita Dolzan, Alenka Franko, published by Sciendo
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Background

Malignant mesothelioma (MM) is a rare aggressive tumour of mesothelium caused by asbestos exposure. It has been suggested that the genetic variability of proteins involved in DNA repair mechanisms affects the risk of MM. This study investigated the influence of functional polymorphisms in ERCC1 and XRCC1 genes, the interactions between these polymorphisms as well as the interactions between these polymorphisms and asbestos exposure on MM risk.

Patients and methods

In total, 237 cases with MM and 193 controls with no asbestos-related disease were genotyped for ERCC1 and XRCC1 polymorphisms.

Results

ERCC1 rs3212986 polymorphism was significantly associated with a decreased risk of MM (odds ratio [OR] = 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.41–0.91; p = 0.014). No associations were observed between other genetic polymorphisms and MM risk. Interactions between polymorphisms did not significantly influence MM risk. Interaction between ERCC1 rs11615 and asbestos exposure significantly influenced MM risk (OR = 3.61; 95% CI = 1.12–11.66; p = 0.032). Carriers of polymorphic ERCC1 rs11615 allele who were exposed to low level of asbestos had a decreased risk of MM (OR = 0.40; 95% CI = 0.19–0.84; p = 0.016). Interactions between other polymorphisms and asbestos exposure did not significantly influence MM risk.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that the genetic variability of DNA repair mechanisms could contribute to the risk of developing MM.

eISSN:
1581-3207
Language:
English
Publication timeframe:
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Journal Subjects:
Medicine, Clinical Medicine, Radiology, Internal Medicine, Haematology, Oncology
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