Aboul Ella Hassanien (Abo)

Patients under age 40 constitute 35.6% of all colorectal cancer cases in Egypt, an unusual disease pattern to which both environmental exposures and inefficient DNA repair may contribute. While a number of polymorphisms in DNA repair genes have been recently identified, their role as cancer risk modifiers is yet to be determined. In a pilot case-control study, we tested the hypothesis that polymorphisms in the gene for the DNA repair enzyme XRCC1 are associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer among Egyptians. Using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology, allelic variants of the XRCC1 gene at codons 194 (Arg → Trp) (194Trp) and 399 (Arg → Gln) (399Gln), were analyzed in DNA from lymphocytes of 48 newly-diagnosed colorectal cancer cases and 48 age- and sex-matched controls. Overall, the inheritance of 194Trp allele (Arg/Trp genotype) and 399Gln allele (combined Arg/Gln and Gln/Gln genotypes) was associated with increased colorectal cancer risk (odds ratio (OR) = 2.56, 95% confidence limits (CL) 0.73-9.40, and P = 0.08 for 194Trp allele and OR = 3.98, 95% CL 1.50-10.6, and P < 0.001 for 399Gln allele). Interestingly, the frequencies of 194Trp and 399Gln genotypes were higher in colorectal cancer cases under age 40 than in corresponding controls, and an association between both polymorphisms and early age of disease onset was observed (OR = 3.33, 95% CL 0.48-35.90, and P = 0.16 for 194Trp and OR = 11.90, 95% CL 2.30-51.50, and P = 0.0003 for 399Gln). Analysis of the data after adjustment for place of residence indicated that the frequencies of the genotypes with the 194Trp and the 399Gln alleles were higher among urban residents (OR = 3.33, 95% CL 0.48-35.90, and P = 0.16 for 194Trp and OR = 9.97, 95% CL 1.98-43.76, and P < 0.001 for 399Gln) than among rural residents (OR = 2.00, 95% CL 0.36-26.00, and P = 0.30 for 194Trp and OR = 1.90, 95% CL 0.50-7.53, and P = 0.20 for 399Gln). These findings support our hypothesis and suggest that polymorphisms in the XRCC1 gene, in conjunction with place of residence, may modify disease risk. This first demonstration that polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may contribute to colorectal cancer susceptibility and may increase the risk of early onset of the disease opens the door for future studies in that direction. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.

Patients under age 40 constitute 35.6% of all colorectal cancer cases in Egypt, an unusual disease pattern to which both environmental exposures and inefficient DNA repair may contribute. While a number of polymorphisms in DNA repair genes have been recently identified, their role as cancer risk modifiers is yet to be determined. In a pilot case-control study, we tested the hypothesis that polymorphisms in the gene for the DNA repair enzyme XRCC1 are associated with increased risk of colorectal cancer among Egyptians. Using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology, allelic variants of the XRCC1 gene at codons 194 (Arg → Trp) (194Trp) and 399 (Arg → Gln) (399Gln), were analyzed in DNA from lymphocytes of 48 newly-diagnosed colorectal cancer cases and 48 age- and sex-matched controls. Overall, the inheritance of 194Trp allele (Arg/Trp genotype) and 399Gln allele (combined Arg/Gln and Gln/Gln genotypes) was associated with increased colorectal cancer risk (odds ratio (OR) = 2.56, 95% confidence limits (CL) 0.73-9.40, and P = 0.08 for 194Trp allele and OR = 3.98, 95% CL 1.50-10.6, and P < 0.001 for 399Gln allele). Interestingly, the frequencies of 194Trp and 399Gln genotypes were higher in colorectal cancer cases under age 40 than in corresponding controls, and an association between both polymorphisms and early age of disease onset was observed (OR = 3.33, 95% CL 0.48-35.90, and P = 0.16 for 194Trp and OR = 11.90, 95% CL 2.30-51.50, and P = 0.0003 for 399Gln). Analysis of the data after adjustment for place of residence indicated that the frequencies of the genotypes with the 194Trp and the 399Gln alleles were higher among urban residents (OR = 3.33, 95% CL 0.48-35.90, and P = 0.16 for 194Trp and OR = 9.97, 95% CL 1.98-43.76, and P < 0.001 for 399Gln) than among rural residents (OR = 2.00, 95% CL 0.36-26.00, and P = 0.30 for 194Trp and OR = 1.90, 95% CL 0.50-7.53, and P = 0.20 for 399Gln). These findings support our hypothesis and suggest that polymorphisms in the XRCC1 gene, in conjunction with place of residence, may modify disease risk. This first demonstration that polymorphisms in DNA repair genes may contribute to colorectal cancer susceptibility and may increase the risk of early onset of the disease opens the door for future studies in that direction. (C) 2000 Published by Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.

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Bilharzial bladder cancer is the most common malignant neoplasm in Egypt, also occurring with a high incidence in other regions of the Middle East and East Africa. In a previous study, using centromere probes specific for chromosomes 3, 4, 7-11, 16, and 17, we demonstrated that monosomy of chromosome 9 (48.4%), and numerical aberrations of chromosome 17 (19.4%) were the most common observed imbalances. The present study extends the establishment of the baseline cytogenetic profile of this type of malignancy. Interphase cytogenetics by fluorescence in situ hybridization with the use of a panel of centromere-associated DNA probes for chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, 13/21, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, X, and Y was performed on paraffin-embedded bladder specimens from 25 Egyptian patients affected with bilharzial bladder cancer. No numerical aberrations were detected in the 25 cases for chromosomes 1, 2, 5, 6, 12, 13/21, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, and X. However, loss of chromosome Y was observed in 7 of the 17 male cases studied (41.2%). No significant correlation was observed between loss of the Y chromosome and any of the different clinicopathologic characteristics of these cases. These data suggest that loss of the Y chromosome is the second frequent event that can occur in bilharzial bladder cancer. A molecular genetic model of bilharzial bladder cancer is evolving. Copyright (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.