Association of single nucleotide polymorphisms of DNA repair gene and susceptibility to pancreatic cancer

We conducted a case-control study to assess the XRCC4 genes polymorphism and development of pancreatic cancer. A case-control study including 248 cases and 496 controls was conducted in a Chinese population. Genotypes of XRCC4 rs2075685, rs10040363, rs963248 and rs1805377 were determined using Polymerase Chain Reaction combined with a restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). Pancreatic cancer cases were more likely to have a history of diabetes, a higher BMI, family history of cancer and a habit of alcohol drinking when compared with control. Conditional logistic regression analysis showed that individuals carrying TT genotype of XRCC4 rs2075685 was associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer when compared with GG genotype, and the OR (95% CI) was 1.62 (1.04-2.52). Individuals with GT+TT genotype of XRCC4 rs2075685 were significantly associated with increased risk of pancreatic cancer in those with ever tobacco smoking habit, and the OR (95% CI) was 1.77 (1.07-2.98). In conclusion, our results suggest that XRCC4 rs2075685 polymorphism plays an important role in the risk of pancreatic cancer in a Chinese population, especially in tobacco smokers.