Vitamin D receptor genetic variants are associated with susceptibility of gallbladder adenocarcinoma in a Chinese cohort.

The aim of this study was to test for the possible association between vitamin D receptor (VDR) genetic variants and susceptibility to gallbladder cancer (GBC). A total of 291 GBC cases were recruited and 396 gender- and age-matched healthy volunteers were enrolled as controls. The VDR gene polymorphisms were determined in all subjects. The genotype and the allele frequencies of ApaI, BsmI, and TaqI polymorphisms were not significantly different between GBC subjects and controls. However, the genotype and allele frequencies of the FokI C>T polymorphism were significantly different between GBC subjects and controls. The FokI TT genotype was in markedly higher frequency in GBC subjects compared to controls (38.14 vs 22.73%, P < 0.001). Using TT as the reference genotype, multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that CC genotype carriers had a higher risk of GBC (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 3.423, adjusted P = 0.001) with adjustment for age, gender, smoking status, alcohol use, and gallstone presence, as well as the serum 1,25(OH)2D level. Carriers of the CT genotype also had a higher risk of GBC (adjusted OR = 1.992, adjusted P = 0.003). Multivariate logistic regression analysis did not reveal any association between the ApaI, BsmI, and TaqI polymorphisms and GBC risk (all P > 0.05).