Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of microRNA processing machinery genes and risk of colorectal cancer

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNA (miRNA)-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (miR-SNPs) in miRNA processing machinery genes can affect cancer risk, treatment efficacy, and patient prognosis. We genotyped 6 miR-SNPs of miRNA processing machinery genes including XPO5 (rs11077), RAN (rs14035), Dicer (rs3742330), TNRC6B (rs9623117), GEMIN3 (rs197412), and GEMIN4 (rs2740348) in a case-control study to evaluate their impact on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: miR-SNPs were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction- ligase detection reaction. The χ (2) test was used to analyze dichotomous values, such as the presence or absence of any individual SNP in CRC patients and healthy controls. RESULTS: Two of these SNPs were identified for their association with cancer risk in the Dicer and GEMIN3 genes. The AA allele of rs3742330 located in the Dicer gene exhibited a significantly increased risk of CRC (odds ratio, 2.11; 95% confidence interval: 1.33-3.34; P=0.001); the TT allele of rs197412 located in GEMIN3 also exhibited a significantly increased risk of CRC (odds ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval: 1.07-2.65; P=0.024). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the specific genetic variants in miRNA machinery genes may affect CRC susceptibility.