The effect of HOTAIR gene variants on the development of bladder cancer and its clinicopathological characteristics in a Caucasian population.

BACKGROUND

The age-adjusted rate of Bladder cancer (BC) in Türkiye is quite high, and genetic factors are effective in BC. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) synthesized from the HOTAIR gene have been shown to promote tumor progression in many cancers. rs874945 and rs4759314 polymorphisms in the HOTAIR gene cause changes in the expression levels of lncRNAs synthesized from this gene. The aim of this study was to explore for the first time the association of these variants with BC in a Caucasian population.

METHODS

The present study explored the HOTAIR gene polymorphisms in 98 BC patients and in 150 healthy individuals using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

RESULTS

Carrying rs874945 G allele and GA genotype increased the BC risk in the statistic models. However, even if rs4759314 variant increased of BC risk was not significant. Similarly, although both polymorphisms increased clinicopathological features associated with poor prognosis, they were not statistically significant. Moreover, being older than 60 years and smoking are independent risk factors for BC.

DISCUSSION: The current study is the first to show that patients carrying the G allele of the rs874945 polymorphism have a higher risk of BC in the Caucasian population. This work suggests that rs4759314 polymorphism should be studied in the Caucasian population with a larger sample size of BC patients.