J Korean Med Sci.  2013 Nov;28(11):1587-1594. 10.3346/jkms.2013.28.11.1587.

Intron 4 VNTR (4a/b) Polymorphism of the Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene Is Associated with Breast Cancer in Mexican Women

• Ramirez-Patino R
• Figuera LE
• Puebla-Perez AM
• Delgado-Saucedo JI
• Legazpi-Macias MM
• Mariaud-Schmidt RP
• Ramos-Silva A
• Gutierrez-Hurtado IA
• Gomez Flores-Ramos L
• Zuniga-Gonzalez GM
• Gallegos-Arreola MP

• KMID: 1777654
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2013.28.11.1587

Abstract

The endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene plays an important role in several biological functions. Polymorphisms of the eNOS gene have been associated with cancer. It has been suggested that the VNTR 4 a/b polymorphism may affect the expression of eNOS and contributes to tumor promotion in the mammary gland. We examined the role of the eNOS4 a/b polymorphism by comparing the genotypes of 281 healthy Mexican women with the genotypes of 429 Mexican women with breast cancer (BC). The observed genotype frequencies for control and BC patients were 0.6% and 0.7% for a/a (polymorphic); 87% and 77% for a/a (wild type); and 12% and 22% for a/b respectively. We found that the odds ratio (OR) was 1.9, with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 1.29-2.95, P = 0.001 for genotypes a/a-a/b, b/c. The association was also evident when comparing the distribution of the a/a-a/b genotypes in patients with high levels of glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) (OR, 1.93; 95% CI, 1.14-3.28; P = 0.015); undergoing menopause with high levels of SGOT (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.84); and with high levels of glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (SGPT) (OR, 3.5; 95% CI, 1.56-8.22). The genotypes a/a-a/b are associated with BC susceptibility in the analyzed samples from the Mexican population.

Keyword

VNTR; eNOS; Breast Cancer; Mexican Population

MeSH Terms

Adult
Alanine Transaminase/*blood
Aspartate Aminotransferases/*blood
Breast Neoplasms/*blood/*genetics
Female
Gene Frequency
Genetic Predisposition to Disease
Genotype
Humans
Mexico
Middle Aged
Nitric Oxide/biosynthesis/metabolism
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III/*genetics
Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide
Alanine Transaminase
Aspartate Aminotransferases
Nitric Oxide
Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of the eNOS 4 a/b polymorphism.

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