Urinary bladder cancer risk in relation to a single nucleotide polymorphism (rs2854744) in the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) gene.

Currently, twelve validated genetic variants have been identified that are associated with urinary bladder cancer (UBC) risk. However, those validated variants explain only 5-10% of the overall inherited risk. In addition, there are more than 100 published polymorphisms still awaiting validation or disproval. A particularly promising of the latter unconfirmed polymorphisms is rs2854744 that recently has been published to be associated with UBC risk. The [A] allele of rs2854744 has been reported to be associated with a higher promoter activity of the insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-3 (IGFBP3) gene, which may lead to increased IGFBP-3 plasma levels and cancer risk. Therefore, we investigated the association of rs2854744 with UBC in the IfADo case-control series consisting of 1,450 cases and 1,725 controls from Germany, Hungary, Venezuela and Pakistan. No significant association of rs2854744 with UBC risk was obtained (all study groups combined: unadjusted P = 0.4446; adjusted for age, gender and smoking habits P = 0.6510), besides a small effect of the [A] allele in the Pakistani study group opposed to the original findings (unadjusted P = 0.0508, odds ratio (OR) = 1.43 for the multiplicative model) that diminished after adjustment for age, gender and smoking habits (P = 0.7871; OR = 0.93). Associations of rs2854744 with occupational exposure to urinary bladder carcinogens and smoking habits were also not present. A meta-analysis of all available case-control series including the original discovery study resulted in an OR of 1.00 (P = 0.9562). In conclusion, we could not confirm the recently published hypothesis that rs2854744 in the IGFBP3 gene is associated with UBC risk.

Rs11892031[A] on chromosome 2q37 in an intronic region of the UGT1A locus is associated with urinary bladder cancer risk.

Recently, rs11892031[A] has been identified in a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to confer increased risk of urinary bladder cancer (UBC). To confirm this association and additionally study a possible relevance of exposure to urinary bladder carcinogens, we investigated the IfADo UBC study group, consisting of eight case-control series from different regions including 1,805 cases and 2,141 controls. This analysis was supplemented by a meta-analysis of all published data, including 13,395 cases and 54,876 controls. Rs11892031 A/A was significantly associated with UBC risk in the IfADo case-control series adjusted to cigarette smoking, gender, age and ethnicity (OR = 1.18; 95% CI = 1.02-1.37; P = 0.026). In the meta-analysis, a convincing association with UBC risk was obtained (OR = 1.19; 95% Cl = 1.12-1.26; P < 0.0001). Interestingly, the highest odds ratios were obtained for individual case-control series with a high degree of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and aromatic amines: cases with suspected occupational UBC (OR = 1.41) and cases from the highly industrialized Ruhr area (OR = 1.98) compared with Ruhr area controls (all combined OR = 1.46). Odds ratios were lower for study groups with no or a lower degree of occupational exposure to bladder carcinogens, such as the Hungary (OR = 1.02) or the ongoing West German case-control series (OR = 1.06). However, the possible association of rs11892031[A] with exposure to bladder carcinogens still should be interpreted with caution, because in contrast to the differences between the individual study groups, interview-based data on occupational exposure were not significantly associated with rs11892031. In conclusion, the association of rs11892031[A] with UBC risk could be confirmed in independent study groups.

Bladder cancer survival in a former industrial area in Saxony-Anhalt, Germany.

Long-term follow-ups on bladder cancer patients from highly industrialized areas are rare. Therefore, we present a follow-up of bladder cancer patients from the greater area Lutherstadt Wittenberg, a center of the chemical industry of the former German Democratic Republic. Relapse-free survival times of 213 confirmed bladder cancer cases from the greater area Lutherstadt Wittenberg were collected between 2008 and 2009. Data on lifestyle and occupational exposure to potential carcinogens was recorded by questionnaire. Genotypes of N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2), glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1), glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1), rs710521, and rs9642880 were determined by standard methods. Cox models were used to evaluate differences in relapse-free survival. Clear differences in relapse-free survival could be observed for the number of relapses, multilocular tumor growth, and relapses with higher staging or grading than the primary tumor, as well as GSTT1. None of the other investigated polymorphisms showed significant impact on prognosis. This is the first study on two recently detected single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) showing that these polymorphisms may also contribute to shorter relapse-free times.

Genotyping NAT2 with only two SNPs (rs1041983 and rs1801280) outperforms the tagging SNP rs1495741 and is equivalent to the conventional 7-SNP NAT2 genotype.

Genotyping N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) is of high relevance for individualized dosing of antituberculosis drugs and bladder cancer epidemiology. In this study we compared a recently published tagging single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (rs1495741) to the conventional 7-SNP genotype (G191A, C282T, T341C, C481T, G590A, A803G and G857A haplotype pairs) and systematically analysed if novel SNP combinations outperform the latter. For this purpose, we studied 3177 individuals by PCR and phenotyped 344 individuals by the caffeine test. Although the tagSNP and the 7-SNP genotype showed a high degree of correlation (R=0.933, P<0.0001) the 7-SNP genotype nevertheless outperformed the tagging SNP with respect to specificity (1.0 vs. 0.9444, P=0.0065). Considering all possible SNP combinations in a receiver operating characteristic analysis we identified a 2-SNP genotype (C282T, T341C) that outperformed the tagging SNP and was equivalent to the 7-SNP genotype. The 2-SNP genotype predicted the correct phenotype with a sensitivity of 0.8643 and a specificity of 1.0. In addition, it predicted the 7-SNP genotype with sensitivity and specificity of 0.9993 and 0.9880, respectively. The prediction of the NAT2 genotype by the 2-SNP genotype performed similar in populations of Caucasian, Venezuelan and Pakistani background. A 2-SNP genotype predicts NAT2 phenotypes with similar sensitivity and specificity as the conventional 7-SNP genotype. This procedure represents a facilitation in individualized dosing of NAT2 substrates without losing sensitivity or specificity.

Rs710521[A] on chromosome 3q28 close to TP63 is associated with increased urinary bladder cancer risk.

Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs710521[A], located near TP63 on chromosome 3q28, was identified to be significantly associated with increased bladder cancer risk. To investigate the association of rs710521[A] and bladder cancer by new data and by meta-analysis including all published data, rs710521 was studied in 1,425 bladder cancer cases and 1,740 controls that had not been included in previous studies. Blood samples were collected from 1995 to 2010 in Germany (n = 948/1,258), Hungary (n = 262/65), Venezuela (n = 112/190) and Pakistan (n = 103/227) supplemented by a meta-analysis of 5,695 cases and 40,187 controls. Detection of a A/G substitution (rs710521) on chromosome 3q28, position 191128627 was done via fast real-time polymerase chain reaction (rt-PCR). Rs710521[A] is associated with increased risk in the unadjusted analysis (OR = 1.21; 95% Cl = 1.04-1.40; P = 0.011) and in the recessive model adjusted for age, gender, smoking habits and ethnicity (OR = 1.23; 95% Cl = 1.05-1.44; P = 0.010). No difference between individuals occupationally exposed versus not occupationally exposed to urinary bladder carcinogens was observed concerning the relevance of rs710521[A]. Similarly, rs710521[A] did not confer different susceptibility in smokers and non-smokers. Performing a meta-analysis of 5,695 cases and 40,187 controls including all published studies on rs710521, a convincing association with bladder cancer risk was obtained (OR = 1.18; 95% Cl = 1.12-1.25; P < 0.0001). However, the odds ratio is relatively small.

UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2B7 C802T (His268Tyr) polymorphism in bladder cancer cases.

A study of Chinese benzidine workers indicated elevated levels of UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UGT) 2B7 T/T activity in carriers for development of bladder cancer. The present study was designed to investigate the possible impact of the presence of UGT2B7 genotype on bladder cancer risk in Caucasians. UGT2B7 polymorphism at locus C(802)T (His(268)Tyr) was detected using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP)-based procedure. The study group consisted of 211 bladder cancer cases and 210 controls suffering from different urological diseases, but without any history of cancer. Both groups were recruited from a Department of Urology located in a center of former chemical and rubber industries in Germany. Furthermore, 171 bladder cancer cases with a history of occupational exposure to aromatic amines surveyed for compensation due to an occupational disease were investigated. T/T genotype frequencies in bladder cancer cases, urological controls, and exposed patients appeared similar (27 vs. 35 vs. 25%). This study indicated that there were ethnic differences between Caucasian and Chinese general populations with respect to the UGT2B7 genotype. Furthermore, in contrast to an earlier investigation in benzidine-exposed Chinese bladder cancer patients, no relevant differences between bladder cancer patients and urological hospital controls were observed in Germany.

The influence of polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases M1 and M3 on the development of human urothelial cancer.

Cigarette smoking is the most important risk factor for development of transitional cell carcinoma of the urinary bladder. The effect of polymorphisms of glutathione S-transferases M1 (GSTM1) and M3 (GSTM3) on the influence of cigarette smoking on urinary bladder carcinogenesis was investigated. In total, 293 bladder cancer patients from hospitals in Dortmund and Wittenberg as well as 176 patients without any malignancy from a Department of Surgery from Dortmund were genotyped for GSTM1 and GSTM3 according to standard PCR/RFLP methods. Smoking habits were quantified by a standardized interview. The proportion of GSTM1 negative cases was 63% in the entire bladder cancer cases group compared to 50% in controls. The GSTM3*A/*A genotype was 76% in cancer cases versus 74% in controls. Smokers and ex-smokers were overrepresented in bladder cancer cases. A significant association between smoking status and GSTM1 or GSTM3 genotype was not detected. The elevated proportion of GSTM1 negative bladder cancer cases shows an effect of this polymorphic enzyme on development of bladder cancer. In contrast to other studies, an influence of GSTM1 on the risk due to cigarette smoking was not observed.