Impact of the HOTAIR (rs920778) and miR-3117 (rs7512692) variants on the Susceptibility and Clinicopathologic characteristics of patients with colorectal cancer

Abstract Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common type of gastrointestinal cancer. Genetic, epigenetic, and lifestyle factors have been implicated in the development of CRC. Non-coding RNAs such as HOX transcript antisense RNA (HOTAIR) andmiR-3117genes have been associated with cell proliferation, progression, invasion, and metastasis as well as poor survival in several cancers. This study examines the potential association between theHOTAIRrs920778 andmiR-3117variants and the clinicopathological features of CRC in Mexican patients.Methods: The study included peripheral blood samples from 588 individuals (289 CRC patients and 299 controls). The variants were identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). The association was calculated using the odds ratio (OR) test. P-values were adjusted using the Bonferroni test (0.016).Results: Individuals carrying the T/C and T/T genotypes for theHOTAIRrs920778 variant exhibited a higher susceptibility to CRC (OR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.15-2.58, P=0.009 and OR=2.78, 95% CI: 1.74-4.45, P=0.001, respectively). Male patients older than 50 years and carrying the C/C genotype demonstrated an increased susceptibility for developing CRC (OR=1.73, 95% CI: 1.15-2.58, P=0.009). Additionally, C/C genotype carriers exhibited an association with advanced TNM stage. Furthermore, for the rs7512692 variant of themiR-3117gene, patients carrying the C/T genotype exhibited increased susceptibility for developing CRC (OR=1.92, 95% CI: 1.35-2.74, P=0.001). Male patients over 50 years of age and carrying the C/T genotype demonstrated increased susceptibility for early TNM stages and tumor location in the colon.Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that theHOTAIRrs920778 andmiR-3117rs7512692 variants play a significant role in colorectal cancer risk.