Published online Jul 28, 2017. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v23.i28.5179
Peer-review started: March 22, 2017
First decision: April 20, 2017
Revised: May 15, 2017
Accepted: June 19, 2017
Article in press: June 19, 2017
Published online: July 28, 2017
Processing time: 130 Days and 8.4 Hours
To determine the pathogenesis and potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as screening sites for colonic polyps, colon cancer and ulcerative colitis, and to analyze the possible association between these genetic polymorphisms and the three diseases.
We evaluated genetic polymorphisms in 144 newly diagnosed colonic polyp patients, 96 colon cancer patients and 44 ulcerative colitis patients. The four SNPs genotyped were rs4809957, rs6068816, rs6091822 and rs8124792. The control group consisted of 504 East Asians enrolled in the 1000 Genomes Project. Correlations between CYP24A1 SNPs and the diseases were analyzed by Fisher’s exact probability test.
CYP24A1 polymorphisms rs4809957 A/G and rs6068816 C/T showed a statistically significant association with risk of the three diseases, when both the genotypes and allele frequencies were considered. With regard to rs6091822 G/T, all three diseases were related to risk allele carriers (GT + TT) vs wild-type (GG), but the associations between the allele frequencies and the diseases were not significant. The risk of colonic polyps and colon cancer was related to the allele frequencies of rs8124792 G/A, and this association remained for genotype frequencies of this SNP.
Four SNPs are related to the risk of colonic polyps and colon cancer. G allele in rs6091822 G/T may play an anti-cancer role only if it is homozygous. The A allele, which is a minor component of rs8124792, may be indicated in the diagnosis of colonic polyps or colon cancer rather than ulcerative colitis.
Core tip: To determine the pathogenesis and potential single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as screening sites for colonic polyps and colon cancer, we examined four SNPs located in CYP24A1 in patients with colonic polyps, colon cancer, ulcerative colitis and controls, and found a statistically significant association with risk of the three diseases. Our research represents the first investigation on CYP24A1 gene polymorphisms in colonic polyp patients. These findings predicted a potential role of CYP24A1 polymorphisms as biomarkers for population-level screening of colon cancer.