Polymorphic variant Ser128Arg of E-Selectin is associated with breast cancer risk and high grade tumors.

BACKGROUND

The present study aimed to evaluate the association between the E-Selectin Ser128Arg polymorphism and breast cancer risk and clinicopathological characteristics of the patients.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

The genotypes of 387 breast cancer patients and 252 healthy women who had no history of any malignancy were detected using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in a hospital-based Malaysian population.

RESULTS

The frequency of the Arg allele was significantly (p = 0.030) higher in breast cancer patients than in healthy individuals. Women who were Ser/Arg heterozygotes (adjusted odds ratio (OR(adj)) = 1.607; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.008-2.564), and carriers of the Arg allele genotype (OR(adj) = 1.587; 95% CI = 1.037-2.430) or Arg allele (OR(adj) = 1.509; 95% CI = 1.040-2.189) showed a significantly increased risk of breast cancer. Patients who were carriers of the Arg allele genotype showed a significant association with poorly differentiated tumors (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

The Ser128Arg polymorphism might confer an increased susceptibility to breast cancer and contribute to aggressive phenotypic characteristics.