A variant of the Cockayne syndrome B gene ERCC6 confers risk of lung cancer

Hum Mutat. 2008 Jan;29(1):113-22. doi: 10.1002/humu.20610.

Abstract

Cockayne syndrome B protein (ERCC6) plays an essential role in DNA repair. However, the Cockayne syndrome caused by the ERCC6 defect has not been linked to cancer predisposition; likely due to the fact that cells with severe disruption of the ERCC6 function are sensitive to lesion-induced apoptosis, thus reducing the chance of tumorigenesis. The biological function and cancer susceptibility of a common variant rs3793784:C>G (c.-6530C>G) in the ERCC6 was examined. We show that the c.-6530C allele has lower binding affinity of Sp1 by EMSA and displays a lower transcriptional activity in vitro and in vivo. We then examined the contribution of this polymorphism to the risk of lung cancer in a case-control study with 1,000 cases and 1,000 controls. The case-control analysis revealed a 1.76-fold (P= x 10(-9)) excess risk of developing lung cancer for the c.-6530CC carriers compared with noncarriers. The c.-6530CC interacts with smoking to intensify lung cancer risk, with the odds ratio (OR)=9 for developing lung cancer among heavy smokers. Our data constituted strong evidence that ERCC6 rs3793784:C>G alters its transcriptional activity and may confer personalized susceptibility to lung cancer.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Alleles
  • Asian People
  • Base Sequence
  • Case-Control Studies
  • DNA Helicases / genetics*
  • DNA Repair Enzymes / genetics*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease*
  • Genetic Variation*
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / epidemiology
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RNA, Messenger / metabolism
  • Risk Factors
  • Smoking / adverse effects
  • Smoking / genetics

Substances

  • Poly-ADP-Ribose Binding Proteins
  • RNA, Messenger
  • DNA Helicases
  • ERCC6 protein, human
  • DNA Repair Enzymes