Background Genetic alterations can result in DNA repair defects, increasing susceptibility to breast cancer. The aim of this study was to evaluate the involvement of two DNA repair genes, ERCC1 ( rs3212986, GenBank NC_000073.9) and ERCC2 ( rs1799793, rs13181 , GenBank: NC_000019.10 ) in the occurrence of breast cancer in Burkina Faso. Methods This case–control study enrolled 128 participants including 64 patients and 64 healthy controls. Genotyping of polymorphisms were performed by real‐time PCR and PCR‐RFLP. Results The heterozygous AC genotype of the ERCC2rs13181 polymorphism was associated with the occurrence of breast cancer when the mutant allele is inherited under the dominant pattern (CC/AC vs AA; OR = 2.74, 95% IC (1.09–6.87); p = .028), but this association became insignificant after the Bonferroni correction ( p = .156). No association was observed between ERCC1 rs3212986 and ERCC2rs1799793 polymorphisms and breast cancer risk. Conclusion This study showed that the heterozygous genotype (CA) of the ERCC2rs13181 polymorphism may be associated with a risk of breast cancer.

Introduction: The TP53 and CHEK2 genes have been described as breast cancer susceptibility genes and some of their polymorphisms have been associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in certain populations.Aim: The objective of this study was to investigate the p.R72P and PIN3 Ins16bp (TP53) polymorphisms and the I157T (CHEK2) mutation developping of breast cancer. Methods: This case-control study had enrolled 144 participants including 65 cases (breast cancer patients) and 79 controls (women without breast abnormalities) in the city of Ouagadougou in Burkina Faso. The DNA was extracted using the method of “salting out” and the genotyping of polymorphisms was performed by ASO-PCR (Allele Specific Oligonucleotides - Polymerase Chain Reaction), conventional PCR and PCR-RFLP (Polymerase Chain Reaction - Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism) techniques. Results: The heterozygous genotype (RP) of the p.R72P polymorphism of TP53 gene was in the majority in cases (73.85%) and controls (73.42%). Regarding to the PIN3 Ins16bp polymorphism of TP53 gene, the homozygous wild type (A1A1) was the most represented in both cases (53.85%) and controls (60.76%). Concerning the I157T mutation of CHEK2 gene, only one (01) patient was homozygous mutant (TT) and no controls had the mutation. This study found no association between these polymorphisms and the risk of breast cancer occurrence (p.R72P (OR=0.96; 95%IC (0.59-1.56); p=0.471), PIN3 Ins16bp (OR= 1.1; 95%IC (0.61-1.98); p=0.420)). Conclusion: This study showed that the P allele of the p.R72P polymorphism and the wild-type allele (A1) of the PIN3 Ins16bp polymorphism were in the majority. The I157T mutation was very rare. These polymorphisms were not associated with the risk of developing breast cancer in this study.