Allelic Imbalance at an 8q24 Oncogenic SNP is Involved in Activating MYC in Human Colorectal Cancer

Background The rs6983267 at 8q24.21 has been established as a significant cancer-related single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). The risk allele showed similarity to the binding site of transcription factor TCF4/LEF1 that activates transcription of MYC . However, little is known about the role of this SNP in increasing MYC activity in colorectal cancers (CRCs). Methods The genotypes of rs6983267 in peripheral blood and primary cancers, MYC activity and copy number (CN) alteration were examined in 107 CRCs. Next, we plotted the number of cancers cell lines exhibiting specific G/T genotypes in 746 cancer cell lines of the Sanger Institute database. Then we validated the relationship between the 8q24 SNP status and clinicopathologic parameters in 68 CRCs with loss of heterozygosity (LOH). Results The MYC module activity was activated by either transcription in the risk allele (G) or by amplification in the non-risk allele (T). Then, we confirmed that the CN amplification dominantly occurred in the non-risk allele, whereas CN neutral LOH, which indicated uniparental disomy (UPD) was more frequently observed for the risk allele. Finally, we confirmed that risk allele dominant cases, either by amplification or by UPD, indicated a more malignant clinical phenotype than non-risk allele dominant cases. Conclusions The development of CRC requires MYC activation through retention of the risk allele, or amplification of the non-risk allele at the oncogenic SNP in the site of primary tumor.