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ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Year : 2013  |  Volume : 5  |  Issue : 3  |  Page : 202-206

Allele frequencies of the epidermal growth factor receptors polymorphism R521K in colorectal cancer patients and healthy subjects indicate a risk-reducing effect of K521 in Syrian population


1 Department of Pharmacology, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
2 Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
3 Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria
4 Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, McGill University, Montrexal, Canada; Research Cancer Centre of the Syrian Society Against Cancer, Aleppo, Syria
5 Department of Pharmacology, University of Aleppo, Aleppo, Syria; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA 92617, USA

Correspondence Address:
Amal Alachkar
355 Med Surge II, Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, CA92617, USA

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Source of Support: This work was supported by the University of Aleppo., Conflict of Interest: None


DOI: 10.4103/1947-2714.109189

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Background: Colorectal cancer contributes heavily to cancer morbidity and mortality worldwide. Numerous therapies are currently in use, including monoclonal antibodies against cellular components involved in tumorigenesis such as epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs). Studies showed the polymorphism [R521K] GàA in the EGFR gene to be involved in both colorectal cancer susceptibility and clinical response to therapeutics (e.g., Cetuximab). Aim: We aimed at uncovering allele frequencies of this polymorphism among Syrian colorectal cancer patients and healthy individuals. Materials and Methods: Forty-seven patients with colorectal cancer were included in a case-control study along with 48 healthy subjects, all native Syrians. Individuals were genotyped using PCR-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and results were statistically analyzed to elucidate significant differences between the two groups. Results: Allele frequencies were 40.4% (G/G), 57.4% (G/A) and 2.1% (A/A) in colorectal cancer patients and 41.6% (G/G), 43.7% (G/A) and 14.5% (A/A) in healthy subjects. The A/A genotype was significantly lower in colorectal cancer patients than in the control group. Conclusions: Homozygosity for the A allele is linked to reducing the risk of developing colorectal cancer in Syrian patients. The lower prevalence of (A/A) locally may predict sub-optimal rates of clinical response to Cetuximab compared with populations with higher frequencies of the A allele. Larger scale investigations are needed for a stronger conclusion.


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