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BACKGROUNDS: Multiple polymorphisms affecting smoking behavior have been identified through genome-wide association studies. Circulating levels of the nicotine metabolite cotinine is a marker of recent smoking exposure. Hence, genetic variants influencing smoking behavior are expected to be associated with cotinine levels. METHODS: We conducted an analysis in a lung cancer case-control study nested within the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort. We investigated the effects of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) previously associated with smoking behavior on (i) circulating cotinine and (ii) lung cancer risk. A total of 894 cases and 1,805 controls were analyzed for cotinine and genotyped for 10 polymorphisms on 7p14, 8p11, 10q23, 15q25, and 19q13. RESULTS: Two variants in the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit genes CHRNA5 and CHRNA3 on 15q25, rs16969968 and rs578776, were associated with cotinine (P = 0.001 and 0.03, respectively) in current smokers and with lung cancer risk (P < 0.001 and P = 0.001, respectively). Two 19q13 variants, rs7937 and rs4105144, were associated with increased cotinine (P = 0.003 and P < 0.001, respectively) but decreased lung cancer risk (P = 0.01 for both, after adjusting for cotinine). Variants in 7p14, 8p11, and 10q23 were not associated with cotinine or lung cancer risk. CONCLUSIONS: 15q25 and 19q13 SNPs were associated with circulating cotinine. The directions of association for 15q25 variants with cotinine were in accordance with that expected of lung cancer risk, whereas SNPs on 19q13 displayed contrasting associations of cotinine and lung cancer that require further investigation. IMPACT: This study is the largest to date investigating the effects of polymorphisms affecting smoking behavior on lung cancer risk using circulating cotinine measures as proxies for recent smoking behavior.

Original publication

DOI

10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-11-0496

Type

Journal article

Journal

Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev

Publication Date

10/2011

Volume

20

Pages

2250 - 2261

Keywords

Adenocarcinoma, Adult, Aged, Carcinoma, Large Cell, Carcinoma, Squamous Cell, Case-Control Studies, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 15, Chromosomes, Human, Pair 19, Cohort Studies, Cotinine, Female, Follow-Up Studies, Humans, Lung Neoplasms, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Grading, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Prognosis, Prospective Studies, Receptors, Nicotinic, Risk Factors, Small Cell Lung Carcinoma, Young Adult