PARP1 rs1136410 C/C genotype associated with an increased risk of esophageal cancer in smokers

DNA repair system plays a crucial role in maintaining genomic integrity and stability and in protecting against cancer. Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1) functions as a key enzyme in the base excision repair (BER) pathway. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) that could affect the function or expression of PARP1 gene might be associated with the risk of cancer. This study was designed to evaluate the association between PARP1 SNPs and the susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in a population from Cixian, a high incidence region from northern China. In 574 ESCC patients and 577 controls, PARP1 rs1136410 and rs8679 SNPs were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction ligase detection reaction (PCR-LDR) method. Upper gastrointestinal cancer (UGIC) family history enhanced the risk of ESCC (the sex-, age- and smoking status-adjusted OR 1.355, 95% CI 1.071–1.715). Overall, rs1136410 and rs8679 SNPs did not modify the risk of ESCC. When stratified by sex, age, smoking status and UGIC family history, the rs1136410 C/C genotype was associated with an increased risk of ESCC in smokers compared to T/T or T/C genotype (the sex-, age- and UGIC family history-adjusted OR 1.696, 95% CI 1.032–2.787). In Cixian high incidence region from northern China, smokers with rs1136410 C/C genotype might have higher susceptibility to ESCC than those with T/T or T/C genotype. These high-risk individuals receiving periodic upper gastrointestinal fiber tests might facilitate early detection and early treatment of ESCC.