Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies in Poland. Based on the findings of clinical trials, it is safe to conclude that genetic predisposition and environmental factors are the main factors responsible for the formation of colorectal cancer.The NQO1 gene plays an important role in reducing endogenous and exogenous quinones as well as quinone compounds to hydroquinones. It is an enzyme which is a part of the body's antioxidant defense system. The aim of the study was to evaluate the correlation between the 609C > T polymorphism of the NQO1 gene and colorectal cancer risk in the Polish population. A total of 512 people were recruited for the study, including 279 patients with colorectal cancer, diagnosed at the University Hospital, Pomeranian Medical University in Szczecin. Genomic DNA was isolated from peripheral blood and the analyzed polymorphism was determined by PCR-RFLP. In the present study, we analyzed the clinical valuesand frequency of NQO1 609C > T polymorphism in patients diagnosed with colorectal cancer and controls. In case of the carriers of the TT genotype of the NQO1 polymorphism, an elevated risk for colorectal cancer was observed (OR = 2.96; 95% CI: 1.02-10.40). The analysis of the clinical parameters concerning the location and characteristics of the tumor stage revealed a statistically significant increase in the risk for colorectal cancer in the carriers of the TT genotype of the NQO1 polymorphism.
Keywords: NQO1; colorectal cancer; gene polymorphism; polymerase chain reaction.