Dual roles of a variable number of tandem repeat polymorphism in the TERT gene in lung cancer

This study was conducted to determine the impact of a functional tandem repeat minisatellite (MNS16A) polymorphism in the telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene on the risk of lung cancer, as well as on survival of patients with non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The effect of the MNS16A variable number of tandem repeat (VNTR) polymorphism on the risk of lung cancer was evaluated in a case–control study that consisted of 937 lung cancer patients and 943 healthy controls. The effect of the polymorphism on survival outcome was evaluated in 703 patients with surgically resected NSCLC. Compared with the VNTR‐302 allele, the VNTR‐243 allele was associated with a significantly increased risk of lung cancer (adjusted odds ratio, 1.55; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.07–2.25; P = 0.02). In addition, the genotypes carrying at least one VNTR‐243 allele were associated with a significantly increased risk of lung cancer compared with the genotypes with no VNTR‐243 allele (adjusted odds ratio, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.09–2.38; P = 0.02). In contrast to the effect of the polymorphism on the risk of lung cancer, the genotypes carrying at least one VNTR‐243 allele were associated with a significantly better overall survival in patients with surgically resected NSCLC (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.28–0.93; P = 0.03). These findings suggest that the MNS16A VNTR polymorphism in the TERT gene has dual, conflicting roles in lung carcinogenesis. This polymorphism may increase the risk of lung cancer development, and may improve survival in lung cancer patients. (Cancer Sci 2011; 102: 144–149)