The C609T (Pro187Ser) Null Polymorphism of the NQO1 Gene Contributes Significantly to Breast Cancer Susceptibility in North Indian Populations: a Case Control Study

Abstract

Background: Worldwide, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and is a leading cause of cancer death. In the present study, we investigated the NQO1 C609T genotypic and allelic distribution in north Indian breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: The genotypic distribution of the NQ01 C609T polymorphism was assessed in 100 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) breast cancer patients and 100 healthy controls using allele specific PCR (AS-PCR). Results: A lower frequency of the CC genotype was found in breast cancer patients (24%) than in the controls. On the other hand, TT genotype frequency was also found to be higher in female healthy controls (32%) than the female breast cancer patients (20%). The frequencies of all three genotypes CC, CT, TT in patients were 24%, 56% and 20% and in healthy controls 50%, 22% and 32% respectively. We did not find any significant correlation between the NQO1 C609T polymorphism and age group, grading, menopausal status and distant metastasis. A less significant association was found between the NQ01 C609T polymorphism and the stage of breast cancer (X2=5.931, P=0.05). Conclusions: The present study shows a strong association between NQO1 C609T polymorphism with the breast cancer risk in the north Indian breast cancer patients so that possible use as a risk factor should be further explored.