BMC Cancer (Jul 2009)

Genetic polymorphisms of the <it>GNRH1 </it>and <it>GNRHR </it>genes and risk of breast cancer in the National Cancer Institute Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium (BPC3)

  • Lund Eiliv,
  • Lenner Per,
  • Isaacs Claudine,
  • Hunter David J,
  • Hoover Robert,
  • Hankinson Susan E,
  • Haiman Christopher A,
  • Feigelson Heather,
  • Dossus Laure,
  • Clavel-Chapelon Francoise,
  • Chanock Stephen,
  • Calle Eugenia E,
  • Buring Julie,
  • Boeing Heiner,
  • Bingham Sheila,
  • Berg Christine,
  • Henderson Brian E,
  • Henderson Katherine D,
  • Cox David G,
  • Kaaks Rudolf,
  • Canzian Federico,
  • Overvad Kim,
  • Palli Domenico,
  • Pearce Celeste,
  • Quiros Jose R,
  • Riboli Elio,
  • Stram Daniel O,
  • Thomas Gilles,
  • Thun Michael J,
  • Trichopoulos Dimitrios,
  • van Gils Carla H,
  • Ziegler Regina G

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-9-257
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
p. 257

Abstract

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Abstract Background Gonadotropin releasing hormone (GNRH1) triggers the release of follicle stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone from the pituitary. Genetic variants in the gene encoding GNRH1 or its receptor may influence breast cancer risk by modulating production of ovarian steroid hormones. We studied the association between breast cancer risk and polymorphisms in genes that code for GNRH1 and its receptor (GNRHR) in the large National Cancer Institute Breast and Prostate Cancer Cohort Consortium (NCI-BPC3). Methods We sequenced exons of GNRH1 and GNRHR in 95 invasive breast cancer cases. Resulting single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were genotyped and used to identify haplotype-tagging SNPs (htSNPS) in a panel of 349 healthy women. The htSNPs were genotyped in 5,603 invasive breast cancer cases and 7,480 controls from the Cancer Prevention Study-II (CPS-II), European Prospective Investigation on Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC), Multiethnic Cohort (MEC), Nurses' Health Study (NHS), and Women's Health Study (WHS). Circulating levels of sex steroids (androstenedione, estradiol, estrone and testosterone) were also measured in 4713 study subjects. Results Breast cancer risk was not associated with any polymorphism or haplotype in the GNRH1 and GNRHR genes, nor were there any statistically significant interactions with known breast cancer risk factors. Polymorphisms in these two genes were not strongly associated with circulating hormone levels. Conclusion Common variants of the GNRH1 and GNRHR genes are not associated with risk of invasive breast cancer in Caucasians.