Polymorphisms in the XPC gene and gastric cancer susceptibility in a Southern Chinese population

Previous studies have reported that XPC gene polymorphisms may modify the individual susceptibility to gastric cancer. In this case–control study with a total of 1,142 cases and 1,173 controls, four potentially functional polymorphisms were genotyped in the XPC gene (rs2228001 A>C, rs2228000 C>T, rs2607775 C>G, and rs1870134 G>C) by Taqman assays and their associations were analyzed with the risk of gastric cancer in a Southern Chinese population. No significant association between any of XPC polymorphisms and gastric cancer risk was detected except for a borderline association with the rs2228000 CT/TT genotype (crude odds ratio =0.86, 95% confidence interval =0.73–1.02, P=0.088) when compared to the rs2228000 CC genotype. Further stratified analysis revealed that the protective effect of rs2228000 CT/TT on the risk of gastric cancer was only significant among subjects older than 58 years. In summary, results indicated that genetic variations in XPC gene may play a weak effect on gastric cancer susceptibility in Southern Chinese population, which warrants further confirmation in larger prospective studies with different ethnic populations.