Genomic variants within the long non-coding RNA H19 confer risk of breast cancer in Iranian population

Objective: The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) H19 is an imprinted lncRNA with acknowledged roles in carcinogenesis. Methods: In the current study, we genotyped two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within H19 in 111 breast cancer patients and 130 age-matched healthy subjects using tetra primer-ARMS-PCR technique. The T allele of rs2839698 conferred breast cancer risk in the assessed population (OR (95% CI) = 2.52 (1.75-3.64), adjusted P value = 1.3E-6), while and the T allele of rs217727 had a protective effect (OR (95% CI) = 0.42 (0.27-0.66), adjusted P value = 2.8E-4). Both SNPs were associated with breast cancer risk in recessive, dominant and co-dominant models. The T C haplotype (rs2839698 and rs217727) significantly increased risk of breast cancer (OR (95% CI) = 2.4 (1.65-3.45), adjusted P value = 1.2E-5), while the C T haplotype had a protective role (OR (95% CI) = 0.31 (0.18-0.52), adjusted P value = 2.03E-5). The present study highlights the role of H19 SNPs in conferring risk of breast cancer in Iranian population. Future studies with larger sample sizes are required to verify these data.