Association between ERK5 -322G/T polymorphism and genetic susceptibility to sporadic colorectal cancer

AIM: To investigate the correlation between extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 ( ERK5 ) -322G/T polymorphism (rs3866958) and the susceptibility to sporadic colorectal cancer (CRC) in southern Chinese population. METHODS: ERK5 -322G/T genotypes were determined by Taqman-MGB probes in 835 CRC cases and 908 healthy controls. RESULTS: No significance of ERK5 -322G/T genotype distribution between CRC patients and controls was observed, but -322G/T decreased the susceptibility to CRC in fat people whose BMI was ≥ 24 kg/m². Compared to GG genotypes, the carriers with GT and TT genotypes had a significant decrease in the risk of CRC(OR=0.576,95%CI 0.413-0.804, P<0.01). CONCLUSION: ERK5 -322G/T polymorphism (rs3866958) has no significant relevance with sporadic CRC susceptibility, but decrease, the risk of CRC in people with fatness. The T variant genotype is an independent protective factor against sporadic CRC of overweight patients in southern Chinese population.