Abstract 2927: MicroRNA binding site polymorphisms influence ovarian cancer risk in the collaborative oncological gene-environment study
Authors: Permuth-Wey Jennifer , Lin Hui-Yi , Tsai Ya-Yu , Zhihua Chen , Chen Y. Ann , Barnholtz-Sloan Jill , Birrer Micheal J. , Chanock Stephen , Cramer Daniel W. , Cunningham Julie M. , Fenstermacher David , Fridley Brooke , Garcia-Closas Montserrat , Gayther Simon A. , Gentry-Maharaj Alexandra , Gonzalez-Bosquet Jesus , Iversen Edwin , Jim Heather , McLaughlin John , Menon Usha , Monteiro Alvaro , Narod Steven A. , Phelan Catherine M. , Ramus Susan , Risch Harvey , Song Honglin , Sutphen Rebecca , Terry Kathryn L. , Tyrer Jonathan , Vierkant Robert A. , Wentzensen Nicolas , Lancaster Johnathan M. , Cheng Jin Q. , Berchuk Andrew , Pharoah Paul D.P , Schildkraut Joellen M. , Goode Ellen L. , Sellers Thomas A. 
Published: August 2012

Mi(cro)RNAs are short non-coding RNA molecules that play a key role in carcinogenesis by regulating tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Published data has implicated miRNAs in ovarian cancer (OC) development and progression, and we hypothesize that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in sites of miRNA: messenger RNA (mRNA) binding may influence OC risk by altering expression levels of targeted mRNAs. To evaluate associations between SNPs in miRNA binding sites and OC risk, we used bioinformatics tools and public databases to identify miRNA binding SNPs relevant to ovarian cancer. We then evaluated the frequency of approximately 1,100 SNPs in ∼20,000 epithelial OC cases and 20,000 controls represented in the international Collaborative Oncological Gene-environment Study. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) between genotypes and case status, with adjustment for the first five principal components representing European ancestry. Log-additive genetic models were applied to each SNP, modeling the number of copies of the minor allele. Subgroup analysis was conducted for serous adenocarcinomas, the most predominant histologic subtype of epithelial OC. Preliminary analysis of 11,215 invasive epithelial OCs and 15,910 controls included four SNPs with P&lt;10−6 and 1 SNP with P&lt;10−5. Analysis of 6,215 invasive serous adenocarcinomas revealed two SNPs with P&lt;10−7 and three SNPs with P&lt;10−6. Noteworthy is rs6104808, a C&gt;T SNP predicted to reside in a highly conserved miRNA binding site of BTBD3 (BTB POZ domain containing 3), a transcription factor suggested to be involved in cell proliferation, cancer progression, and response to platinum-based chemotherapy. rs6104808 was associated with a decreased risk of OC overall (OR (95% CI): 0.42 (0.28-0.62), P=1.26 x 10−5)), and the association was stronger among cases with serous adenocarcinoma (OR (95% CI): 0.30 (0.17-0.50), P=9.89 x 10−6)). This represents the largest, most comprehensive epidemiologic study to date to evaluate associations between miRNA binding site SNPs and OC susceptibility. Although based on a preliminary analysis, these data suggest a significant role and putative biological mechanism for common germline variants in miRNA binding sites leading to cancer development.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 2927. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-2927