X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 polymorphisms and cancer risks in Asian populations: a mini review.

X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) is an important DNA repair protein. Arg194Trp, Arg280His, and Arg399Gln are three polymorphisms of XRCC1 that commonly exist in human. In this context, we obtained the relevant articles through a PubMed search and examined the association of XRCC1 polymorphisms and the risk of cancer in Asian populations. Generally, a single XRCC1 polymorphism is weakly associated with cancer in Asian populations. However, when combined with other genetic polymorphisms or such lifestyle factors as smoking, XRCC1 polymorphisms show a stronger association with the risk of cancer. The interaction of the 399Gln/Gln genotype and smoking might be associated with a three-fold increase in the risk of cancer. In this paper we provide some important information for practical future cancer prevention programs. To further clarify the association of XRCC1 polymorphisms and cancer risks, additional studies are required from the perspectives of epidemiology and in vitro.