rs351855

This case-control association study evaluated 23 genetic sequence variants in 17 genes across DNA repair, cell cycle, and other pathways in 531 stage I-II radiation-treated head and neck cancer (HNC) patients to identify associations with secondary primary cancers (SPCs). Among the variants tested, the DNMT3B C149T variant (rs2424913) showed a strong significant association with SPC development, with adjusted hazard ratios of 2.23 (95% CI, 1.32-3.78; P = .003) for TT versus CC genotype and 1.49 (95% CI, 1.15-1.95; P = .003) per T allele. A haplotype cluster of 5 DNMT3B variants in strong linkage disequilibrium also showed significant associations (P < .003), suggesting aberrant DNA methylation is an important modulator of field cancerization in HNC.

This study demonstrates that the FGFR4-388Arg variant (rs351855) promotes lung cancer progression through N-cadherin induction. Using in vitro, in vivo, and clinical approaches, the authors show that FGFR4-388Arg overexpression activates STAT3 and MAPK signaling and induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in lung cancer cell lines. In a cohort of 65 NSCLC patients, FGFR4-388Arg correlated with poorer overall and progression-free survival in patients with high FGFR4 expression (p < 0.001 for PFS, p = 0.002 for OS).

This comprehensive review examines genetic association studies on prostate cancer, discussing GWASs that have identified over 75 variants associated with PCa risk (as of February 2016), with major susceptibility regions at 8q24, 17q12, 17q24, 10q11, and 19q13. The paper also reviews candidate gene-based approaches targeting genes involved in androgen signaling, carcinogen metabolism, DNA repair, vitamin D signaling, inflammation, angiogenesis, and cellular adhesion, as well as regulatory RNA genes.

Meta-analysis of 2,618 prostate cancer cases and 2,305 controls examining the FGFR4 Gly388Arg polymorphism. The Arg388 allele increased prostate cancer risk compared with Gly388 (OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.07-1.29), with significant associations in both Asian and Caucasian populations. Patients with Arg/Arg genotype had 1.34-fold increased risk of advanced prostate cancer (95% CI: 1.03-1.74) compared to Gly/Gly+Gly/Arg genotypes.