Association of ATG7 Polymorphisms and Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma Risk.

Abstract

Kidney cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Recent studies have suggested that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in autophagy-related gene are associated with the risk of kidney cancer. This study was undertaken to investigate the association of autophagyrelated gene 7 (ATG7) polymorphisms with the risk of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) in the Chinese Han population. Blood samples were collected from 293 ccRCC patients and 297 healthy controls. Three ATG7 polymorphisms (rs1375206, rs2606736 and rs6442260) were genotyped by Agena MassARRAY. The association was estimated by genetic models and stratification analyses. A significant association was observed between allele A of rs6442260 and ccRCC risk (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58-0.99, p = 0.039). Genetic model analysis revealed that rs2606736 (OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.34-0.95, p = 0.031) and rs6442260 (OR = 0.44, 95% CI: 0.22-0.90, p = 0.021) were associated with decreased risk of ccRCC under recessive model. Age stratification analysis showed that rs2606736 (OR = 0.67, 95% CI: 0.46-0.98, p = 0.036) and rs6442260 (OR = 0.26, 95% CI: 0.07-0.89, p = 0.014) were significantly decreased risk of ccRCC under the log-additive model in age > 55 years old and ≤ 55 years old, respectively. This study indicated that ATG7 polymorphisms (rs2606736 and rs6442260) have a protective role for ccRCC risk. Further large sample size and functional assays are needed to confirm our findings and reveal the role of ATG7 polymorphisms in ccRCC carcinogenesis.