Impact of polymorphisms of the DNA repair gene XRCC1 and their role in the risk of prostate cancer

Objective: We conducted a case-control study to examine the role of XRCC1 codons 194 (Arg>Trp), 280 (Arg>His) and 399 (Arg>Gln) polymorphisms in the risk of prostate cancer.

Methods: This study included 572 consecutive primary prostate cancer patients and 572 controls between January 2011 and January 2014. The polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) was performed to detect XRCC1 codons 194 (Arg>Trp), 280 (Arg>His) and 399 (Arg>Gln) polymorphisms.

Results: Compared with the control subjects, the prostate cancer cases had a habit of cigarette smoking (χ2=18.13, P<0.001) and a family history of cancer (χ2=25.23, P<0.001). Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that the subjects carrying Trp/Trp genotype were more likely to greatly increase the prostate cancer when compared with Arg/Arg genotype, and the adjusted OR was 2.04(1.24-3.41). We did not find significant association between XRCC1 194 (Arg>Trp) polymorphism and clinical stage and Gleason score of prostate cancer (P>0.05).

Conclusion: Our results show an increased risk for prostate cancer in individuals with XRCC1 194 (Arg>Trp) polymorphism, and a significant interaction between XRCC1 194 (Arg>Trp) polymorphism and tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking and family history of cancer.