Single-nucleotide polymorphisms of microRNA processing machinery genes and risk of colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE: MicroRNA (miRNA)-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (miR-SNPs) in miRNA processing machinery genes can affect cancer risk, treatment efficacy, and patient prognosis. We genotyped 6 miR-SNPs of miRNA processing machinery genes including XPO5 (rs11077), RAN (rs14035), Dicer (rs3742330), TNRC6B (rs9623117), GEMIN3 (rs197412), and GEMIN4 (rs2740348) in a case-control study to evaluate their impact on colorectal cancer (CRC) risk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: miR-SNPs were genotyped using the polymerase chain reaction– ligase detection reaction. The χ(2) test was used to analyze dichotomous values, such as the presence or absence of any individual SNP in CRC patients and healthy controls. RESULTS: Two of these SNPs were identified for their association with cancer risk in the Dicer and GEMIN3 genes. The AA allele of rs3742330 located in the Dicer gene exhibited a significantly increased risk of CRC (odds ratio, 2.11; 95% confidence interval: 1.33–3.34; P=0.001); the TT allele of rs197412 located in GEMIN3 also exhibited a significantly increased risk of CRC (odds ratio, 1.68; 95% confidence interval: 1.07–2.65; P=0.024). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the specific genetic variants in miRNA machinery genes may affect CRC susceptibility.