Association between polymorphisms of the DNA repair gene RAD51 and ovarian cancer

Genetic polymorphisms in the RAD51 gene may be associated with increased cancer risk.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate associations between the risk of ovarian cancer and 135G>C (rs1801320) and 172G>T (rs1801321) polymorphisms in the RAD51 gene.

We analysed the distribution of genotypes and frequency of alleles of the RAD51 polymorphisms in 210 women with ovarian cancer and 210 healthy controls. Both polymorphisms were genotyped by restriction fragment length polymorphism-polymerase chain reaction (PCR-RFLP).

In the present study only 135G>C polymorphism of the RAD51 gene was associated with ovarian cancer risk. The distribution of genotypes for 135G>C in ovarian cancer patients vs. controls was: 20% vs. 30% for G/G, 22% vs. 47% for G/C, and 58% vs. 23% for C/C genotype, respectively. We found evidence of an increased ovarian cancer risk in C/C homozygotes but not in heterozygotes. The 135C allele of RAD51 increased cancer risk.

In the present work we demonstrated a significant positive association between the RAD51 135G>C polymorphism and ovarian carcinoma in Poland. However, this gene requires further understanding of its interaction with other genes involved in tumour development.