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Association of a genetic variant in microRNA-146a with risk of colorectal cancer: a population-based case-control study

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Tumor Biology

Abstract

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that negatively regulate target gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. Although recent studies have indicated that miR-146a is involved in the tumorigenesis of various types of malignancies, few studies have investigated its role in colorectal cancer. In the current study, we examined the expression of miR-146a in colorectal cancer tissue and adjacent normal controls using publicly available expression profiling data. We then conducted a population-based case-control study which included 554 colorectal cancer cases and 566 matched healthy controls to assess the association of a genetic variant (rs2910164) in miR-146a with colorectal cancer susceptibility. We observed decreased expression of miR-146a in rectal cancer tissue compared with adjacent normal controls (P < 0.001). Association between miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism and risk of colorectal cancer was detected with effect modification by alcohol drinking status (P for interaction = 0.010). Among non-alcohol drinkers, individuals with CC/CG genotype had an increased risk of developing colorectal cancer compared with those carrying GG genotype (odds ratio (OR) = 1.63, 95 % confidence interval (CI): 1.07∼2.47). Our findings indicate an association between miR-146a dysregulation and colorectal cancer, and suggest that miR-146a may play a role in colorectal carcinogenesis. Further large population-based prospective studies as well as mechanistic investigations are warranted to validate our findings.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. 81072356 and No. 81373087).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Zhejiang University School of Public Health, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou, 310058, China

    Yingying Mao, Yingjun Li, Fangyuan Jing, Shaofang Cai, Zhenyu Zhang, Jianbing Wang, Mingjuan Jin & Kun Chen

  2. Institute for Cancer Prevention of Jiashan County, 172 Beixindai, Jiashan, 314100, China

    Qilong Li & Xinyuan Ma

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  1. Yingying Mao
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Correspondence to Kun Chen.

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Mao, Y., Li, Y., Jing, F. et al. Association of a genetic variant in microRNA-146a with risk of colorectal cancer: a population-based case-control study. Tumor Biol. 35, 6961–6967 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-014-1916-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13277-014-1916-y

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