Association of a VDR Gene Polymorphism with Risk of Colorectal Cancer in Kashmir

Roles of the vitamin D receptor in etiology of cancers, including colorectal cancer, have been repeatedlystressed in different parts of the world. A case control study aimed to evaluate the relationship between thetwo was therefore initiated in Kashmir, known both for its increasing incidence of gastrointestinal cancers anddeficiency of micro-nutrients especially vitamin D. The study included a total of 617 subjects (312 colorectalcancer cases and 305 controls), with sampling carried out over a period of 5 years. DNA samples from the bloodof the subjects were analyzed for start codon Fok I VDR polymorphism. We obtained a 1.3 fold increased riskamong individuals homozygous for f variants as compared to subjects homozygous for F allele (odds ratioOR 1.3, 95%CI, 0.861-1.65). Our study also showed statistically significant results when dwelling and tumorlocation characteristics were stratified with Fok I polymorphism, all of which suggests a possible role of Fok Ipolymorphism in the etiology of CRC in Kashmir