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Heterozygosity for the Cys282Tyr mutation in the HFE gene and the risk of colorectal cancer (Netherlands)

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Abstract

Background & Aims: Heterozygosity for the Cys282Tyr transition in the HFE-gene is associated with slightly increased iron levels and may therefore be a potential risk factor for colorectal cancer. Methods: We studied the relationship between Cys282Tyr-heterozygosity and colorectal cancer using a case–control design. The 240 colorectal cancer cases and 635 controls in our study were derived from a prospective cohort study of 12,242 postmenopausal women, who were invited for an experimental breast cancer screening program in Utrecht, the Netherlands. The women were age 51–69 at time of inclusion and were followed for a period of 20 years. HFE genotyping was performed by PCR and allele-specific oligonucleotide (ASO) hybridization. Results: The risk of colorectal cancer was higher for women who were heterozygous for the Cys282Tyr mutation, than for those who were Cys282Tyr-wildtypes, although this was not statistically significant (Age-adjusted OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 0.6–2.2). Cys282Tyr-heterozygotes who smoked seemed to be at higher risk of colorectal cancer, although the p-value for interaction was not significant (p-value 0.42). Conclusions: The Cys282Tyr mutation is not associated with an increased risk for colorectal cancer in postmenopausal women, although in combination with smoking a slightly increased risk cannot be excluded.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, HP D01.335, University Medical Center, Utrecht, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Daphne L. van der A, Olga van der Hel, Mark Roest, Yvonne T. van der Schouw, Carla H. van Gils, Paulus A.H. van Noord & Petra H.M. Peeters

  2. Eijkman-Winkler Institute for Microbiology, Infectious Diseases and Inflammation, University Medical Center, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    Daphne L. van der A & Joannes J.M. Marx

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  1. Daphne L. van der A
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  2. Olga van der Hel
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  3. Mark Roest
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  4. Yvonne T. van der Schouw
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  5. Carla H. van Gils
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  6. Joannes J.M. Marx
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  7. Paulus A.H. van Noord
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  8. Petra H.M. Peeters
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Correspondence to Daphne L. van der A.

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van der A, D.L., van der Hel, O., Roest, M. et al. Heterozygosity for the Cys282Tyr mutation in the HFE gene and the risk of colorectal cancer (Netherlands). Cancer Causes Control 14, 541–545 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024839528684

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024839528684