Lack of associations between AURKA gene polymorphisms and neuroblastoma susceptibility in Chinese children

AURKA Gene Variants rs1047972, and rs8173 Are Associated With Breast Cancer

PURPOSE

Association between variants rs1047972 and rs8173 of the AURKA gene in healthy women and breast cancer (BC) in a Mexican population.

METHODS

Genomic DNA samples from 409 healthy women and 572 patients with BC were analyzed for variants rs1047972 and rs8173 of the AURKA gene by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism.

RESULTS

TT genotype (odds ratio [OR], 2.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22-5.11; p = 0.0015) and the T allele (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.23-2.12; p = 0.0007) of the rs1047972 variant were associated as risk susceptibility for BC relative to the control group. Contrarily, the GG genotype (OR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.43-0.94; p = 0.029) was associated as a protective factor of susceptibility of BC of the variant rs8173 of the AURKA gene. Differences were observed in the patients with BC who were carriers of the CT genotype of the rs1047972 variant with overweight, obesity, estrogen receptor-positive plus obesity, Ki-67 (≥ 20%) plus history familial positive of cancer; and for variant rs8173 the BC patients who were CG carriers and presented chemotherapy gastric toxicity, hormonal receptor positive plus chemotherapy gastric toxicity, and menopause status plus chemotherapy gastric toxicity (p < 0.05). Two common haplotypes were identified in the study groups: CG and TC genotypes, were associated as a protective and risk factor, respectively (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Variants rs1047972 and rs8173 of the AURKA gene and the TC haplotype were associated as risk susceptibility factors for BC in this population.

AURKA gene polymorphisms and central nervous system tumor susceptibility in Chinese children

INTRODUCTION

Central nervous system (CNS) tumors comprise 15-20% of all malignancies occurring in childhood and adolescence. Previous researches have shown that overexpression and amplification of the AURKA gene could induce multiple human malignancies, with which the connection of CNS tumor susceptibility has not been extensively studied.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

In this study, we assessed whether and to what extent AURKA gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (rs1047972 C > T, rs2273535 T > A, rs8173 G > C) were associated with CNS tumor susceptibility, based on a case-control analysis in 191 CNS tumor patients and 248 controls. We determined this correlation using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

AURKA gene rs8173 G > C exhibited a crucial function to CNS tumor susceptibility fall-off (GC/CC vs. GG: adjusted OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.46-0.998, P = 0.049). In addition, the combined effect of lowering the risk of developing CNS tumors was more pronounced in carriers with 3 protective genotypes than others (adjusted OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.31-0.98, P = 0.044). Further stratification analysis illustrated that the existence of rs8173 GC/CC and three protective genotypes lowered CNS tumor risk in some subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our research suggested that the AURKA gene rs8173 G > C could significantly reduce CNS tumor susceptibility in Chinese children. More functional experiments are needed to explore the role of the AURKA gene rs8173 G > C.

Predictive Role of AURKA rs 1047972 Gene Polymorphism and the Risk of Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

ABBREVIATION

AFP: alpha-fetoprotein; ALP: alkaline phosphatase; ALT: alanine aminotransferase; AST: aspartate aminotransferase; AURKA: aurora kinase A; BCLC: Barcelona- Clinic Liver Cancer; CBC: complete blood count; CT: computed tomography; DM: diabetes mellitus; DNA: deoxyribonucleic acid; EDTA: ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid; GGT: gamma-glutamyl transferase; HB: hemoglobin; HBV: hepatitis B virus; HBsAg: hepatitis B surface antigen; HCC: hepatocellular carcinoma; HCV: hepatitis C virus; INR: international normalized ratio; mRNA: messenger ribonucleic acid; OR: odds ratio; PVT: portal vein thrombosis; RT-PCR: real-time polymerase chain reaction; SNP: single nucleotide polymorphism; WBCs: white blood cells.

The role of Aurora-A in human cancers and future therapeutics

Aurora-A is a mitotic serine/threonine-protein kinase and an oncogene. In normal cells, Aurora-A appears from G2 phase and localizes at the centrosome, where it participates in centrosome replication, isolation and maturation. Aurora-A also maintains Golgi apparatus structure and spindle assembly. Aurora-A undergoes ubiquitination-mediated degradation after the cell division phase. Aurora-A is abnormally expressed in tumor cells and promotes cell proliferation by regulating mitotic substrates, such as PP1, PLK1, TPX2, and LAST2, and affects other molecules through a non-mitotic pathway to promote cell invasion and metastasis. Some molecules in tumor cells also indirectly act on Aurora-A to regulate tumor cells. Aurora-A also mediates resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy and is involved in tumor immunotherapy. Clinical trials of Aurora-A molecular inhibitors are currently underway, and clinical transformation is just around the corner.

AURKA rs2273535 T>A Polymorphism Associated With Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review With Meta-Analysis

Aurora kinase A (AURKA) is a cell cycle regulatory serine/threonine kinase that promotes cell cycle progression. It plays an important role in regulating the transition from G2 to M phase during mitosis. The association between the AURKA rs2273535 T>A polymorphism and cancer risk has been investigated, but the results remain inconsistent. To get a more accurate conclusion, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of 36 case-control studies, involving 22,884 cancer cases and 30,497 healthy controls. Crude odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to determine the association of interest. Pooled analysis indicated that the AURKA rs2273535 T>A polymorphism increased the overall risk of cancer (homozygous: OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.04-1.33; recessive: OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.05-1.25; allele: OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.02-1.13). Stratification analysis by cancer type further showed that this polymorphism was associated with an increased breast cancer risk. This meta-analysis indicated that the AURKA rs2273535 T>A polymorphism was associated with an overall increased cancer risk, especially breast cancer. Further validation experiments are needed to strengthen our conclusion.

AURKA rs8173 G>C Polymorphism Decreases Wilms Tumor Risk in Chinese Children

Wilms tumor is the most common type of renal malignancy in children. Previous studies have demonstrated that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the AURKA gene could predispose to several human malignancies. We recruited 145 cases and 531 cancer-free controls to investigate whether AURKA gene variants modify Wilms tumor susceptibility. Three AURKA SNPs (rs1047972 C>T, rs2273535 T>A, and rs8173 G>C) were genotyped by the Taqman methodology. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of association between AURKA SNPs and Wilms tumor risk. We found that only the rs8173 G>C polymorphism was significantly associated with Wilms tumor risk (GC vs. GG: adjusted OR (AOR) = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.35-0.73, P=0.0002; GC/CC vs. GG: AOR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.42-0.88, P=0.008). Stratification analysis revealed that rs8173 GC/CC genotypes were associated with Wilms tumor risk among children aged >18 months (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.34-0.93, P=0.024), male children (AOR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.33-0.90, P=0.017), and children with clinical stage III + IV diseases (AOR = 0.56, 95% CI = 0.35-0.90, P=0.017). Haplotype analysis indicated that the CAG haplotype was significantly associated with increased Wilms tumor risk. In conclusion, our findings indicated that the AURKA rs8173 G>C polymorphism was associated with decreased Wilms tumor risk in Chinese children.