A case-control study of the association between the EGFR gene and glioma risk in a Chinese Han population

The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor gene has been reported to be involved in the progression of gliomas which is one of the deadliest primary brain tumors in humans. To determine potential association between EGFR and glioma risk, we performed a case-control study with 394 glioma patients and 298 cancer-free controls in which captured a total of 8 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms of EGFR gene from Xi’an, China. SPSS 19.0 statistical packages, χ(2) test, genetic model analysis and SHEsis software platform were analyzed s the variants in EGFR gene associations with glioma risk. For five different inheritance models analyzed, the following genotypes were associated with increased glioma risk. In the codominant model, genotype CC (rs730437, OR = 1.93, p = 0.024; rs1468727, OR = 2.02, p = 0.007); In the dominant model, genotype CA and CC (rs730437, OR = 1.45, p = 0.026), genotype GA and AA (rs845552, OR = 1.40, p = 0.044); In the recessive model, genotype CC (rs730437, OR = 1.64, p = 0.026; rs1468727, OR = 1.87, p = 0.002); In the additive model, genotype CC (rs730437, OR = 1.32, p = 0.006; rs1468727, OR = 1.39, p = 0.005), genotype GG (rs11506105, OR = 1.32, p = 0.02) and genotype AA (rs845552, OR = 1.27, p = 0.04). Our study indicated that 8 mutants located in EGFR gene were risk-conferring factors, larger and different populations with EGFR polymorphisms are required to verify these associations.