Examination of RAD51 gene G135C polymorphism in gastric cancer patients in northeastern Anatolia

Abstract

Polymorphisms of DNA repair and genome integrity genes are associated with DNA repair capacity and elevated cancer risk. To establish an association between the pattern of polymorphism and the incidence of any type of cancer, studies across different populations are required. Polymorphic regions have been identified in the RAD51 repair gene in various cancer types; however, the influence of specific genetic variants on gastric cancer prevalence has not been empirically demonstrated. We conducted a case-control study with 76 gastric cancer patients and 78 healthy individuals from northeastern Anatolia to examine the association between polymorphism and gastric cancer. We genotyped the previously identified G135C polymorphism of RAD51 in all individuals and estimated the allele and genotype frequencies in the two groups. Our results indicated that the two groups differed both in allele and genotype frequencies. Additionally, a significant and elevated odd ratio (3.53) of gastric cancer for the C allele of RAD51 was observed. The genotypes GC and CC had also significant and high odd ratios (>3.75). Our results indicate that G135C polymorphism of the RAD51 gene was associated with an increased risk of gastric cancer in the examined population.