Genetic Variations in TERT-CLPTM1L Genes and Risk of Lung Cancer in a Chinese Population

Background: This study was conducted to investigate the association between single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and cleft lip and palate transmembrane1-like (CLPTM1L)and lung cancer risk in a Chinese population.
Methods: We performed a hospital-based case-control study,including 980 lung cancer cases and 1000 cancer-free controls matched for age and sex. Each case and controlwas interviewed to collect information by well-trained interviewers. A total of 5 ml of venous blood was collectedfor genotype testing of TERT rs2736098 and CLPTM1L rs401681 using TaqMan methodology.
Results: Theresults revealed that the variant homozygote TERT rs2736098TT was associated with an increased risk of lungcancer (OR=2.017, 95%CI=1.518-2.681), especially lung adenocarcinoma (OR=2.117, 95%CI=1.557-3.043)and small cell carcinoma (OR=1.979, 95%CI: 1.174-3.334), compared with the TERT rs2736098CC genotype.Similar results were observed in non-smokers.
Conclusion: The TERT rs2736098 polymorphism might affect thesusceptibility to lung cancer in Chinese populations. The associations need to be verified in larger and differentpopulations.