A study of RET proto-oncogene polymorphisms in association with lung cancer risk in the Korean population.

BACKGROUND/AIM This study examined whether the polymorphisms at the promoter region of RET gene are associated with the risk of lung cancer in the Korean population. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 409 Korean lung cancer patients and 409 normal subjects were recruited. PCR-RFLP, SNaP Shot assay and logistic regression analyses were performed to characterize the association between polymorphisms of RET and lung cancer risk. RESULTS Four SNPs (-1697 C>G, -1260 C>T, -719 C>T, -527 C>A) of RET were selected for large-scale genotyping. Statistical analyses revealed that novel -1260 C > T polymorphism and haplotype 3 (-1697G, -1260T, -719C, and -719C) were associated with the risk of lung cancer; specifically, there were significant associations within subgroups of males and smokers. CONCLUSION These results demonstrated that this novel polymorphism of the RET gene is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer in the Korean population.