Skip to main content
Download PDF

DNA repair gene ERCC2 polymorphisms and associations with breast and ovarian cancer risk

Molecular Cancer volume 7, Article number: 36 (2008) Cite this article

Abstract

Breast and ovarian cancers increased in the last decades. Except rare cases with a genetic predisposition and high penetrance, these pathologies are viewed as a polygenic disease. In this concept, association studies look for genetic variations such as polymorphisms in low penetrance genes, i.e. genes in interaction with environmental factors. DNA repair systems that protect the genome from deleterious endogenous and exogenous damages have been shown to have significantly reduced. In particular, enzymes of the nucleotide excision repair pathway are suspected to be implicated in cancer. In this study, 2 functional polymorphisms in a DNA repair gene ERCC2 were analyzed. The population included 911 breast cancer cases, 51 ovarian cancer cases and 1000 controls. The genotyping of 2 SNP (Single Nucleotide Polymorphism) was carried out on the population with the MGB (Minor Groove Binder) probe technique which consists of the use of the allelic discrimination with the Taqman® method. This study enabled us to show an increase in risk of breast cancer with no oral contraceptive users and with women exhibiting a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) > 0.85 for Asn homozygous for ERCC2 312.

Background

High levels of DNA damage, caused by excessive exposure to carcinogens, might be responsible for increased breast cancer susceptibility in women known to have significantly reduced DNA repair proficiencies [1]. In particular, dysfunctions of the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway are known or suspected to be involved in cancer. The DNA helicase encoded by the excision repair cross-complementing group 2 gene ERCC2 (formely XPD) is one of seven nucleotide excision repair enzymes that cause Xeroderma Pigmentosum when mutated in germ line [2]. Several polymorphisms have been identified in this gene and particularly the Asp312Asn ERCC2 polymorphism which consists of the substitution of a G to A resulting in an amino acid change in the coding region, and the Lys751Gln which consists in a A to C substitution in the coding region [3]. A change of amino acid is able to modify the effect of protein more or less, which can translate by an effect on the systems of repair and consequently on the carcinogenesis. Conflicting data on the roles of these polymorphisms on cancer risk including breast and ovarian cancers have been described [4–6].

The objective of this study was to establish the role of two functional polymorphisms of a DNA repair gene ERCC2 in the risk of breast or ovarian cancer. We investigated the possible interactions between these polymorphisms and specific environmental factors (reproductive factors, body mass index, tobacco smoking...) which could influence the risk of cancer.

Results

Risk associated with individual SNPs

In this breast cancer population (Table 1), no significant differences were found between breast cancer cases and controls. A trend to the increase in breast cancer risk could be observed with heterozygous women for the SNP at position 312 of ERCC2 protein (OR = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.93–1.21) after adjustment for age. For ovarian cancer (Table 2), there was no significant modification in the risk for the two studied SNP.

Table 1 ERCC2 Asp312Asn and ERCC2 Lys751Gln polymorphisms and breast cancer risk
Full size table
Table 2 ERCC2 Asp312Asn and ERCC2 Lys751Gln polymorphisms and ovarian cancer risk
Full size table

Interaction between genetic factors and anthropometric/lifestyle factors

Results concerning interactions between environmental factors and risk of breast cancer were reported in Table 3. Nonsmoker homozygous Asn at position 312 of ERCC2 tended towards an increase in the risk of developing breast cancer (OR = 1.4; 95% CI = 0.98–2.02). Heterozygous individuals for ERCC2 Asp312Asn which received a hormonal replacement therapy (HRT) exhibited a risk to develop breast cancer (OR = 1.39; 95% CI = 0.97–1.99). A significant increase in the risk was observed for individuals who did not take oral contraceptives and who were homozygous Asn at position 312 of ERCC2 (OR = 1.66; 95% CI = 1.08–2.53). An increase was observed for heterozygous individuals at position 751 of ERCC2 who took oral contraceptives (OR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.00–2.36). When age at first oral contraceptive use was after 23 years, a significant increase in breast cancer risk was obtained for heterozygous ERCC2 Lys751Gln (OR = 2.22; 95% CI = 1.15–4.29). Lastly, women with a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) > 0.85 and homozygous for position 312 of ERCC2 exhibited a significant increase in the risk of breast cancer (OR = 1.96; 95% CI = 1.12–3.43).

Table 3 ERCC2 Asp312Asn, ERCC2 Lys751Gln polymorphisms and potential breast cancer risk factors
Full size table

Concerning ovarian cancer (Table 4), a significant increase in the risk was found for heterozygous ERCC2 Lys751Gln and who had menarche before 13 years old (OR = 6.03; 95% CI = 1.02–35.78). Heterozygous individuals ERCC2 Asp312Asn who did not take oral contraceptives had a significant increase in the risk of ovarian cancer (OR = 2.16; 95% CI = 1.08–4.33). Heterozygous ERCC2 Asp312Asn with BMI > 25 exhibited a significant increase in ovarian cancer risk (OR = 3.5; 95% CI = 1.00–12.26), while heterozygous ERCC2 Lys751Gln with body mass index (BMI) < 25 exhibited an upward tendency in ovarian cancer risk (OR = 5.64; 95% CI = 0.93–33.99). Heterozygous ERCC2 Lys751Gln with WHR = 0.85 also exhibited an upward tendency in the risk of ovarian cancer (OR = 5.68; 95% CI = 0.94–34.25).

Table 4 ERCC2 Asp312Asn, ERCC2 Lys751Gln polymorphisms and potential ovarian cancer risk factors
Full size table

Discussion

Nucleotide Excision Repair (NER) pathway is a key DNA repair system. A dysfunction of this system would result in higher cancer susceptibility because individuals would be more exposed to carcinogens. Exogenous (cigarette smoke, pollutants) and endogenous carcinogens are potential breast and ovarian cancer risk factors. Above all, exposition to estrogens seemed to be the major risk factor. Indeed, estrogens had proliferative effects on mammary cells and could be metabolized in potential carcinogens and induce DNA damage [7]. Many investigations were done concerning breast cancer risk and DNA repair polymorphisms. At the opposite, few studies were done with ovarian cancer which exhibited a lower incidence but a high mortality rate. So we studied two polymorphisms in ERCC2 DNA repair gene because these polymorphisms might modify the exposure of women to estrogens.

An early age at menarche increases the risk of ovarian and breast cancers, probably due to the prolonged exposure of breast epithelium to endogenous hormones. Similarly a late age at menopause is considered as a risk for cancer because it increases the number of ovulatory cycles [8]. Concerning parity, a dual effect of pregnancy is reported. On one hand, parity inhibits the early stages of mammary carcinogenesis (long-term risk reduction) due to the terminal differentiation of breast tissue. On the other hand, there is a short-term risk increase because of the proliferation of breast tissue in response to high gestational hormone levels which render the mammary gland more susceptible to carcinogens [9]. Overall early pregnancy and high parity are considered to have a protective effect [10–13].

Oral contraceptive use was by far the most influential factor on breast cancer development. However, the hormonal replacement therapy generates a prolonged exposure to estrogens during life, leading to an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers. At the opposite, the established protective effect of OC use in ovarian cancer may also be due to the suppression of the LH peak and to a decrease of endogenous estradiol production. If estrogens are related to an increased risk of ovarian cancer, oral contraception might have some protective effect by lowering the overall level of estrogens [14, 15].

Studies of the relationship between BMI and the risk of ovarian cancer have been inconclusive, finding either a positive correlation [16–23], no relationship [24–31], or negative association [32]. Our results suggested an interaction with menopausal status, with higher BMI being more associated with ovarian cancer risk in premenopausal women than in postmenopausal women, in agreement with Beehler et al (2006) [33]. Greer et al (2005) showed a slight increase in risk with weight during adulthood and later in life, which was most apparent among nulliparous women [34]. Fairfield et al (2002) did not find any association between recent BMI and risk of ovarian cancer, but reported that a high BMI during early adulthood was associated with an increased risk of premenopausal cancer [26]. A case-control study reported an association between increased BMI at age 18 and during most adult life and ovarian cancer [23].

We found a strong relationship between waist-to-hip ratio and the risk of ovarian cancer regardless of menopausal status, underscoring the role of central adiposity in the induction of ovarian cancer [35].

In addition, we studied tobacco smoking, the role of which was very important in ovarian and breast cancers. For ovarian and breast cancers, the role of the tobacco is complex. Some of cigaret smoke compounds will have an anti-estrogen effect, while others such as HAP, AAH and N-nitrosamines will act as carcinogens by acting directly on DNA. The lipophilic HAP are stored in fat tissues, which include the mammary glands and tissues surrounding the ovaries [7].

Our results showed an increase in the risk of breast cancer in individual heterozygous for ERCC2 Asp312Asn with women receiving a menopause substitutive treatment and an increased risk for ovarian cancer with no oral contraceptive uses, and/or BMI > 25. For heterozygous ERCC2 Lys751Gln, an increased risk for breast cancer was found with age at first OC use after 23 years. Heterozygous ERCC2 Lys751Gln exhibited a higher risk for ovarian cancer when age at menarche was before 13 years, BMI < 25 and WHR < 0.85.

Besides, homozygous Asn for ERCC2 312 tended to have an increase in breast cancer risk among nonsmokers, and a significant increase in breast cancer risk among OC users or with WHR > 0.85. It might be a combined effect between DNA damage caused by estrogens and reduced DNA repair proficiency with ERCC2. For the other first results, the explanation might be a reduced DNA repair proficiency with ERCC2 but it was found when the interaction between genetic factors and anthropometric/lifestyle factors was considered.

Contradictory results were found in the literature. Tang et al (2002) did not show an association between these two SNP in ERCC2 and breast cancer risk whereas a lower A allele frequency in ERCC2 Asp312Asn was found in a Chinese population by Zhang et al (2005) [5, 36]. On the contrary, a case-control study in Portugal revealed that women with the Asn312Asn or the Gln751Gln genotype presented a three-fold risk of ovarian cancer in comparison with heterozygous or wild-type homozygous women [3].

Conclusion

This study enabled us to show an increase in risk of breast cancer with no oral contraceptive users and with women exhibiting a waist-to-hip ratio superior to 0.85 for Asn homozygous for ERCC2 312.

Subjects and Methods

Study Subjects

911 breast cancer cases and 51 ovarian cancer cases (aged 26–89 years), from the Auvergne region in France were included. They are belonging to the COSA program (Breast and Ovarian Cancer in the Auvergne region) that consisted of the recruitment of identified women from different clinics and hospitals in the Auvergne region in France from November 1996 through November 1999. Eligible subjects were women who had been diagnosed with breast or ovarian cancer with no BRCA mutation and no more than one first degree relative breast cancer.

1,000 healthy control women (aged 24–85 years) were recruited in a mammographic screening center from July 2005 to April 2006. Eligible controls were women with no previous history of cancer and resident in the Auvergne region. All study subjects received counseling and provided written consent for the study.

Data collection

Participants completed a questionnaire about their medical and reproductive histories in particular. Breast and ovarian cases filled in the questionnaire at the time of clinic appointment whereas controls were interviewed at the medical center at the time of enrollment. Data regarding reproductive history (including gravidity, parity, age at first-full term pregnancy, history of breastfeeding, age at menarche and menopause, menstrual cycle regularity, hormone replacement therapy), use of oral contraceptives (OC) ("Ever use" of OC was defined as at least 3 months of use), age at first OC use and duration of OC, anthropometric characteristics (height, weight, weight at age 20, waist and hip measurements), smoking status ("ever smoker" was defined as at least 1 year of smoking) were collected.

Genotyping

For breast and ovarian cancer patients and healthy women, genomic DNAs were extracted from whole blood using DNA extraction kit by Euromedex according to the manufacturer's protocol (Euromedex, Souffelweyersheim, France). Two functional polymorphisms of a DNA repair gene ERCC2 were selected (Table 5). The corresponding probes were ordered at the company Applied Biosystems. Allelic discrimination using fluorogenic probes (5' nuclease assay, Taqman®) was chosen for genotyping on the ABI PRISM 7700 Sequence Detection Systems (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) and consisted of the use of allele-specific fluorogenic probes [37]. Sixteen nanograms of DNA were amplified by AmpliTaq Gold DNA polymerase which was included in Taqman® Universal Master Mix (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA). The PCR reactions were as follows: one step of 10 min at 95°C followed by 40 cycles of two-step PCR with denaturation at 92°C for 15s and annealing and extension at 60°C for 1 min. Ten percent of all samples were genotyped again for quality control.

Table 5 Two functional polymorphisms were studied in a DNA repair gene (ERCC2)
Full size table

Statistical Analysis

The software SEM (Centre Jean Perrin, Clermont Ferrand, France) was used for data analyses [38]. Standard descriptive statistics consisted in means plus standard deviation for quantitative data. Comparisons between cases and controls were performed using Chi2-squared test for qualitative parameters. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine cancer risk factors in our populations, and odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were estimated.

Allelic frequencies and the distribution of genotype were compared within the two populations using Chi2 analysis and ORs with 95% CI. Yates correction was performed when the number of cases was inferior to 5. The potential confounding effects of known breast cancer risk factors (age at menarche, number of children, age at first child birth, menopause, breastfeeding, oral contraceptive (OC) use, age at first OC use, body mass index [BMI], BMI at 20 years old, waist-to-hip ratio [WHR] and smoking) were evaluated by adjusting for unconditional logistic regression and calculation of ORs. As no changes in ORs were noted, results were reported without adjustment for these factors.

References

  1. Helzlsouer KJ, Harris EL, Parshad R, Perry HR, Price FM, Sanford KK: DNA repair proficiency: potential susceptiblity factor for breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1996, 88: 754-755. 10.1093/jnci/88.11.754

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Coin F, Marinoni JC, Rodolfo C, Fribourg S, Pedrini AM, Egly JM: Mutations in the XPD helicase gene result in XP and TTD phenotypes, preventing interaction between XPD and the p44 subunit of TFIIH. Nat Genet. 1998, 20: 184-188. 10.1038/2491

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Costa S, Pinto D, Pereira D, Vasconcelos A, Afonso-Lopes C, Osorio T, Lopes C, Medeiros R: Importance of xeroderma pigmentosum group D polymorphisms in susceptibility to ovarian cancer. Cancer Lett. 2007, 246: 324-330. 10.1016/j.canlet.2006.03.014

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Lunn RM, Helzlsouer KJ, Parshad R, Umbach DM, Harris EL, Sanford KK, Bell DA: XPD polymorphisms: effects on DNA repair proficiency. Carcinogenesis. 2000, 21: 551-555. 10.1093/carcin/21.4.551

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Tang D, Cho S, Rundle A, Chen S, Phillips D, Zhou J, Hsu Y, Schnabel F, Estabrook A, Perera FP: Polymorphisms in the DNA repair enzyme XPD are associated with increased levels of PAH-DNA adducts in a case-control study of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2002, 75: 159-166. 10.1023/A:1019693504183

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Justenhoven C, Hamann U, Pesch B, Harth V, Rabstein S, Baisch C, Vollmert C, Illig T, Ko YD, Bruning T, Brauch H: ERCC2 genotypes and a corresponding haplotype are linked with breast cancer risk in a German population. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2004, 13: 2059-2064.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Mitrunen K, Hirvonen A: Molecular epidemiology of sporadic breast cancer. The role of polymorphic genes involved in oestrogen biosynthesis and metabolism. Mutat Res. 2003, 544: 9-41. 10.1016/S1383-5742(03)00016-4

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Dumitrescu RG, Cotarla I: Understanding breast cancer risk -- where do we stand in 2005?. J Cell Mol Med. 2005, 9: 208-221. 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2005.tb00350.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Bernard-Gallon DJ, De Latour MP, Sylvain V, Vissac C, Aunoble B, Chassagne J, Bignon YJ: Brca1 and Brca2 protein expression patterns in different tissues of murine origin. Int J Oncol. 2001, 18: 271-280.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Dumitrescu RG, Cotarla I: Understanding breast cancer risk - where do we stand in 2005?. J Cell Mol Med. 2005, 9: 208-221. 10.1111/j.1582-4934.2005.tb00350.x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Innes KE, Byers TE: First pregnancy characteristics and subsequent breast cancer risk among young women. Int J Cancer. 2004, 112: 306-311. 10.1002/ijc.20402

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Pathak DR: Dual effect of first full term pregnancy on breast cancer risk: empirical evidence and postulated underlying biology. Cancer Causes Control. 2002, 13: 295-298. 10.1023/A:1015282916368

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Russo J, Russo IH: Cellular basis of breast cancer susceptibility. Oncol Res. 1999, 11: 169-178.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Killick S, Eyong E, Elstein M: Ovarian follicular development in oral contraceptive cycles. Fertil Steril. 1987, 48: 409-413.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Pelucchi C, Galeone C, Talamini R, Bosetti C, Montella M, Negri E, Franceschi S, La Vecchia C: Lifetime ovulatory cycles and ovarian cancer risk in 2 Italian case-control studies. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2007, 196 (1): 83 e1-7. 10.1016/j.ajog.2006.06.088.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Rodriguez C, Calle EE, Fakhrabadi-Shokoohi D, Jacobs EJ, Thun MJ: Body mass index, height, and the risk of ovarian cancer mortality in a prospective cohort of postmenopausal women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2002, 11: 822-828.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Schouten LJ, Goldbohm RA, van den Brandt PA: Height, weight, weight change, and ovarian cancer risk in the Netherlands cohort study on diet and cancer. Am J Epidemiol. 2003, 157: 424-433. 10.1093/aje/kwf224

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Hirose K, Tajima K, Hamajima N, Kuroishi T, Kuzuya K, Miura S, Tokudome S: Comparative case-referent study of risk factors among hormone-related female cancers in Japan. Jpn J Cancer Res. 1999, 90: 255-261.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Riman T, Dickman PW, Nilsson S, Correia N, Nordlinder H, Magnusson CM, Persson IR: Risk factors for epithelial borderline ovarian tumors: results of a Swedish case-control study. Gynecol Oncol. 2001, 83: 575-585. 10.1006/gyno.2001.6451

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Purdie DM, Bain CJ, Webb PM, Whiteman DC, Pirozzo S, Green AC: Body size and ovarian cancer: case-control study and systematic review (Australia). Cancer Causes Control. 2001, 12: 855-863. 10.1023/A:1012267619561

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Calle EE, Rodriguez C, Walker-Thurmond K, Thun MJ: Overweight, obesity, and mortality from cancer in a prospectively studied cohort of U.S. adults. N Engl J Med. 2003, 348: 1625-1638. 10.1056/NEJMoa021423

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Farrow DC, Weiss NS, Lyon JL, Daling JR: Association of obesity and ovarian cancer in a case-control study. Am J Epidemiol. 1989, 129: 1300-1304.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Lubin F, Chetrit A, Freedman LS, Alfandary E, Fishler Y, Nitzan H, Zultan A, Modan B: Body mass index at age 18 years and during adult life and ovarian cancer risk. Am J Epidemiol. 2003, 157: 113-120. 10.1093/aje/kwf184

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Engeland A, Tretli S, Bjorge T: Height, body mass index, and ovarian cancer: a follow-up of 1.1 million Norwegian women. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2003, 95: 1244-1248.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Dal Maso L, Franceschi S, Negri E, Conti E, Montella M, Vaccarella S, Canzonieri V, Parazzini F, La Vecchia C: Body size indices at different ages and epithelial ovarian cancer risk. Eur J Cancer. 2002, 38: 1769-1774. 10.1016/S0959-8049(02)00155-7

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Fairfield KM, Willett WC, Rosner BA, Manson JE, Speizer FE, Hankinson SE: Obesity, weight gain, and ovarian cancer. Obstet Gynecol. 2002, 100: 288-296. 10.1016/S0029-7844(02)02053-7

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Kuper H, Cramer DW, Titus-Ernstoff L: Risk of ovarian cancer in the United States in relation to anthropometric measures: does the association depend on menopausal status?. Cancer Causes Control. 2002, 13: 455-463. 10.1023/A:1015751105039

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Wolk A, Gridley G, Svensson M, Nyren O, McLaughlin JK, Fraumeni JF, Adam HO: A prospective study of obesity and cancer risk (Sweden). Cancer Causes Control. 2001, 12: 13-21. 10.1023/A:1008995217664

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Moller H, Mellemgaard A, Lindvig K, Olsen JH: Obesity and cancer risk: a Danish record-linkage study. Eur J Cancer. 1994, 30A: 344-350. 10.1016/0959-8049(94)90254-2

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Slattery ML, Schuman KL, West DW, French TK, Robison LM: Nutrient intake and ovarian cancer. Am J Epidemiol. 1989, 130: 497-502.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Anderson JP, Ross JA, Folsom AR: Anthropometric variables, physical activity, and incidence of ovarian cancer: The Iowa Women's Health Study. Cancer. 2004, 100: 1515-1521. 10.1002/cncr.20146

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Lukanova A, Toniolo P, Lundin E, Micheli A, Akhmedkhanov A, Muti P, Zeleniuch-Jacquotte A, Biessy C, Lenner P, Krogh V, Berrino F, Hallmans G, Riboli E, Kaaks R: Body mass index in relation to ovarian cancer: a multi-centre nested case-control study. Int J Cancer. 2002, 99: 603-608. 10.1002/ijc.10374

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Beehler GP, Sekhon M, Baker JA, Teter BE, McCann SE, Rodabaugh KJ, Moysich KB: Risk of ovarian cancer associated with BMI varies by menopausal status. J Nutr. 2006, 136: 2881-2886.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Greer JB, Modugno F, Ness RB, Allen GO: Anthropometry and the risk of epithelial ovarian cancer. Cancer. 2006, 106: 2247-2257. 10.1002/cncr.21830

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Delort L, Kwiatkowski F, Chalabi N, Satih S, Bignon YJ, Bernard-Gallon DJ: Risk factors for early age at breast cancer onset--the "COSA program" population-based study. Anticancer Res. 2007, 27: 1087-1094.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Zhang L, Zhang Z, Yan W: Single nucleotide polymorphisms for DNA repair genes in breast cancer patients. Clin Chim Acta. 2005, 359: 150-155. 10.1016/j.cccn.2005.03.047

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  37. Livak KJ: Allelic discrimination using fluorogenic probes and the 5' nuclease assay. Genet Anal. 1999, 14: 143-149.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Kwiatkowski F, Girard M, Hacène K, Berlie J: Sem: a suitable statistical software adaptated for research in oncology. Bull Cancer. 2000, 87: 715-721.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by "La Ligue Nationale Française de Lutte Contre le Cancer" (Puy-de-Dôme, Allier and Cantal). Laetitia Delort is a recipient of a grant from the "Association pour la Recherche sur le Cancer", Villejuif, France. Nasséra Chalabi is a post-graduate of the CLARA "Cancéropôle Lyon-Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes", France. N. Rabiau is a recipient of a grant "CIFRE" from Soluscience S.A., Clermont-Ferrand, France. The authors wish to thank Centre République, Clermont Ferrand, France, for the enrollment of control population.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département d'Oncogénétique du Centre Jean Perrin, EA 2416 CBRV, 28 Place Henri Dunant, B.P. 38, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 01, France

    Dominique Bernard-Gallon, Rémy Bosviel, Laetitia Delort, Nadège Rabiau, Fabrice Kwiatkowski, Nasséra Chalabi, Samir Satih & Yves-Jean Bignon

  2. CRNH, 58 rue Montalembert, 63009, Clermont-Ferrand Cedex 01, France

    Dominique Bernard-Gallon, Rémy Bosviel, Laetitia Delort, Nadège Rabiau, Fabrice Kwiatkowski, Nasséra Chalabi, Samir Satih & Yves-Jean Bignon

  3. Univ Clermont 1, UFR Médecine, Institut de Médecine du Travail, 28 place Henri Dunant, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand, France

    Luc Fontana, Alain Chamoux & Yves-Jean Bignon

  4. CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Service Santé Travail Environnement, 28 place Henri Dunant, 63001, Clermont-Ferrand cedex, France

    Luc Fontana & Alain Chamoux

Authors
  1. Dominique Bernard-Gallon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rémy Bosviel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Laetitia Delort
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Luc Fontana
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Alain Chamoux
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Nadège Rabiau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Fabrice Kwiatkowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Nasséra Chalabi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Samir Satih
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Yves-Jean Bignon
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Yves-Jean Bignon.

Additional information

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

DBG, LD was responsible for genotyping polymorphisms, statistical analyses and interpretation, and drafting of the manuscript; RB, NC, SS, NR contributed with the coordination of the study and helped in statistical analyses; FK provided expertise in data analyses; YJB, DBG, LF, AC contributed to the study design and manuscript preparation. All authors participated in the preparation of the manuscript and approved the final version.

Rights and permissions

Open Access This article is published under license to BioMed Central Ltd. This is an Open Access article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 ), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Bernard-Gallon, D., Bosviel, R., Delort, L. et al. DNA repair gene ERCC2 polymorphisms and associations with breast and ovarian cancer risk. Mol Cancer 7, 36 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-4598-7-36

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-4598-7-36

Keywords

Molecular Cancer

ISSN: 1476-4598