Association of LCT-13910 C/T Polymorphism and Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

PurposeThe activity of epithelial lactase (LCT) is associated with a polymorphism 13910 bp upstream in the lactase encoding gene. Because the association between the LCT-13910 polymorphism and the risk for colorectal cancer is not clear, we investigated the role of the LCT-13910 polymorphism as a potential risk factor for colorectal cancer and colorectal polyps in the Turkish population.MethodsOne hundred sixty-six subjects (74 with polyps, 44 with colorectal cancer, 48 controls), who had undergone a total colonoscopy between January 2012 and November 2012 in our endoscopy unit were genotyped for the LCT-13910 polymorphism by using the polymerase chain reaction and minisequencing.ResultsThe CC genotype in the lactose gene 13910 locus, which is accepted as the genetic indicator of lactase deficiency, was determined as 83.7%. The CC genotype rate was determined as 89.1% in patients who had a history of lactose intolerance and 81.5% in those without a history of lactose intolerance (P = 0.236). No difference was detected between the patients who had colorectal polyp(s) and/or cancer and the controls with regard to the LCT-13910 polymorphism. No differences were determined between groups when they were compared with regard to the C or the T allele.ConclusionNo differences were detected between the patients who had colorectal polyp(s) and/or cancer and those with normal colonoscopy findings with regard to lactase gene polymorphisms. No differences were determined between the groups when they were compared with regard to the C or the T allele.

Genetically proxied milk consumption and risk of colorectal, bladder, breast, and prostate cancer: a two-sample Mendelian randomization study

“…Studies of genetically predicted milk consumption in relation to site-specific cancers are scarce. No association was observed between rs4988235 and colorectal cancer in small case-control studies conducted in Turkey (44 cases and 48 controls) [ 31 ] and Italy (306 cases and 311 controls) [ 32 ]. Lactase persistence was non-significantly positively associated with prostate cancer risk in a meta-analysis of three studies, including a case-control study nested in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study (630 cases and 873 controls) and case-control studies of Finnish (1229 cases and 473 controls) and Swedish (2924 cases and 1842 controls) men [ 33 ].…”

The Association of Lactose Intolerance With Colon and Gastric Cancers: Friend or Foe?

“…Composed of a glucose and a galactose molecule, lactose is a carbohydrate in mammalian milk [ 14 ]. To allow for uptake by enterocytes in the intestinal wall, lactose is broken down via hydrolysis by the enzyme lactase-phlorizin hydrolase, which is found on the lactase gene ( LCT ) on chromosome 2q21 [ 15 , 16 ]. The hydrolyzed lactose forms glucose and galactose molecules, that can be oxidized to CO2 and H2O or, if under anaerobic conditions, undergo lactic or alcohol fermentation [ 14 , 17 ].…”

“…The expression of the LCT gene is genetically determined, although the activity of the enzyme is always highest in infancy [ 15 ]. In northern European populations, high levels of lactase enzyme can be maintained into adulthood, labeled lactase persistence [ 16 ]. Lactase-phlorizin hydrolase absence or underproduction leads to LI [ 14 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ].…”

Lactose Intolerance and Colorectal Cancer

“…Furthermore, these days in South Korea, despite Koreans having an Asian root, colorectal cancer has been increasing rapidly, as has the consumption of dairy products. Therefore ethnic lineage cannot explain everything [ 13 ].…”

“…This phenomenon must be investigated further if we are going to be able to determine whether or not it contributes to the initiation and/or development of cancer. Diverse studies, such as the one reported in this article, but with different ethnic characteristics, should be done to determine the factors that contribute to the development of colorectal cancer [ 13 14 ].…”