Polymorphisms in HIFs and breast cancer sutarsceptibility in Chinese women: a case–control study

Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) play a crucial role in cancer progression. Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated that HIFs polymorphisms can influence the susceptibility of multiple cancers. However, the relationship of HIFs polymorphisms (rs11549467 and rs17039192) and breast cancer (BC) risk was still unknown. Thus, we performed a case-control study based on 560 BC patients and 583 healthy controls to explore the association between them. Our results indicated a boardline connection between HIF-1 rs11549467 and BC risk (AG compared with GG: OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.05–2.49, P=0.03; AG + AA compared with GG: OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.08–2.51, P=0.02; AG compared with GG + AA: OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.04–2.48, P=0.03; OR = 1.64, 95% CI = 1.09–2.45, P=0.02), while HIF-2 rs17039192 had no influence on breast cancer. Considered the comparison of sample size and potential heterogeneity of previous case–control studies, we concluded that HIF-1 rs11549467 has a marginal effect on BC risk. Further well-designed studies with larger sample size were required.