CLPTM1L gene rs402710 (C > T) and rs401681 (C > T) polymorphisms associate with decreased cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Molecular Markers of Telomerase Complex for Patients with Pituitary Adenoma

Pituitary adenoma (PA) is the most common benign tumor of the pituitary gland. The pathogenesis of most PA is considered as a multifactorial process, that involves genetic mutations, alterations in gene transcription, and epigenetic factors. Their interaction promotes tumorigenesis. The processes are increasingly focused on changes in telomere length. Our study enrolled 126 patients with PA and 368 healthy subjects. DNA samples from peripheral blood leukocytes were purified by the DNA salting-out method. The RT-PCR carried out SNPs and relative leukocyte telomere lengths (RLTL). ELISA determined the level of TEP1 in blood serum. Binary logistic regression revealed that TERC rs35073794 is likely associated with increased odds of PA development and macro-PA development. It is also associated with decreased odds of active PA, non-invasive PA, and PA without relapse development. Also, we discovered that PA patients with at least one G allele of the TEP1 gene polymorphism rs1713418 have lower serum TEP1 levels than healthy individuals (p = 0.035). To conclude, the study revealed that TERC rs35073794 might be a potential biomarker for PA development.

Susceptibility loci for pancreatic cancer in the Brazilian population

Background

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PA) is a very aggressive cancer and has one of the poorest prognoses. Usually, the diagnosis is late and resistant to conventional treatment. Environmental and genetic factors contribute to the etiology, such as tobacco and alcohol consumption, chronic pancreatitis, diabetes and obesity. Somatic mutation in pancreatic cancer cells are known and SNP profile by GWAS could access novel genetic risk factors for this disease in different population context. Here we describe a SNP panel for Brazilian pancreatic cancer, together with clinical and epidemiological data.

Methods

78 pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 256 non-pancreatic cancer subjects had 25 SNPs genotyped by real-time PCR. Unconditional logistic regression methods were used to assess the main effects on PA risk, using allelic, co-dominant and dominant inheritance models.

Results

9 SNPs were nominally associated with pancreatic adenocarcinoma risk, with 5 of the minor alleles conferring protective effect while 4 related as risk factor. In epidemiological and clinical data, tobacco smoking, diabetes and pancreatitis history were significantly related to pancreatic adenocarcinoma risk. Polygenic risk scores computed using the SNPs in the study showed strong associations with PA risk.

Conclusion

We could assess for the first time some SNPs related with PA in Brazilian populations, a result that could be used for genetic screening in risk population such as familial pancreatic cancer, smokers, alcohol users and diabetes patients.