Functional polymorphisms in monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 are associated with increased susceptibility to ovarian cancer.

Ovarian cancer ranks fifth in cancer deaths among women, accounting for more deaths than any other cancer of the female reproductive system. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is highly expressed in various malignancies and promotes carcinogenesis. The aim of the study was to investigate the association between MCP-1 genetic polymorphisms and the susceptibility to ovarian cancer. MCP-1 rs1024611A/G and rs3760396C/G polymorphisms were examined in 257 ovarian cancer patients and 273 healthy controls. We found that distributions of rs1024611GG genotype and rs3760396GG genotype were clearly increased in ovarian cancer cases compared to healthy donors (odds ratio [OR]=1.93, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.13-3.29, p=0.015; OR=3.89, 95% CI: 1.63-9.33, p=0.001). Stratification analyses revealed that patients with serous papillary type had further increased percentage of rs3760396GG genotype than those with other types (OR=3.89, 95% CI: 1.11-13.66, p=0.024). In addition, we evaluated the possible effect of MCP-1 polymorphisms on gene expression by examining the serum level of MCP-1 in patients and controls. Data revealed that subjects carrying rs1024611AG and GG genotypes had a significantly higher serum level of MCP-1 than those with AA genotype. These data suggest that MCP-1 rs1024611A/G and rs3760396C/G polymorphisms are associated with increased susceptibility to ovarian cancer, in which rs1024611A/G may increase serum level of MCP-1 in the Chinese population.