The association between polymorphisms in the DNA nucleotide excision repair genes and RRM1 gene and lung cancer risk

Background Although numerous studies have investigated the association between DNA repair gene variants and lung cancer risk, the results remain inconclusive and incomplete. Methods We examined variants in seven nucleotide excision repair (NER) and RRM1 genes in association with primary lung cancer risk among 385 patients with newly diagnosed primary non-small cell lung cancer and 208 cancer-free controls collected from 2007 to 2009 in east China. The relationship between single nucleotide polymorphisms and risk of lung cancer was assessed by logistic regression and stratification analysis. Results The rs17655GG (ERCC5) and rs5744751CT (POLE) were associated with increased risk of lung cancer (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 2.32, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.413.83; adjusted OR, 2.84, 95% CI, 1.704.74]. In stratification analysis, we found the increased effect of rs17655GG on the risk of lung cancer was observed among female, older subjects, or non-smokers. The heterozygote computed tomography (CT) of rs5744751 had a stronger unprotective effect on lung cancer among male, older subjects, or heavy smokers. Conclusion These results suggest that rs17655GG and rs5744751CT may be associated with lung cancer susceptibility in the Chinese population. However, these findings still need to be verified in larger confirmatory studies.