Relationship between XRCC1 polymorphisms and susceptibility to prostate cancer in men from Han, Southern China

Aim: To investigate the association among XRCC1 polymorphisms, smoking, drinking and the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in men from Han, Southern China. Methods: In a case‐control study of 207 patients with PCa and 235 cancer‐free controls, frequency‐matched by age, we genotyped three XRCC1 polymorphisms (codons 194, 280 and 399) using the polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RELP) method. Results: Among the three polymorphisms, we found that the XRCC1 Arg399Gln variant allele was associated with increased PCa risk (adjusted odd ratio [OR]: 1.67, 95% confident interval [CI]: 1.11‐2.51), but the XRCC1 Arg194Trp variant allele had a 38% reduction in risk of PCa (adjusted OR: 0.62, 95% CI: 0.41‐0.93). However, there was no significant risk of PCa associated with Arg280His polymorphism. When we evaluated the three polymorphisms together, we found that the individuals with 194Arg/Arg wild‐type genotype, Arg280His and Arg399Gln variant genotypes had a significantly higher risk of PCa (adjusted OR: 4.31; 95% CI: 1.24‐14.99) than those with three wild‐type genotypes. In addition, we found that Arg399Gln variant genotypes had a significant risk of PCa among heavy smokers (adjusted OR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.03‐4.05). Conclusion: These results suggest that polymorphisms of XRCC1 appear to influence the risk of PCa and may modify risks attributable to environmental exposure.