ERCC1 rs3212986 and ERCC2 rs13181 gene polymorphisms contributes to the susceptibility to pancreatic cancer in a Chinese population

DNA repair is responsible for maintaining genomic stability in response to the assault of the environmental carcinogens that cause DNA damage. We carried out a case-control study to investigate the role of ERCC1 (rs11615, rs2298881 and rs3212986) and ERCC2 (rs13181) genetic variations in the risk of pancreatic cancer. This casecontrol study is comprised of 254 pancreatic cancer patients and 277 control subjects between January 2013 and March 2015. The ERCC1 (rs11615, rs2298881 and rs3212986) and ERCC2 (rs13181) polymorphisms were genotyped by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length of polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). By unconditional logistic regression analysis, we found that the TT genotype (OR=2.20, 95% CI=1.14-4.35) and T allele (OR=1.39, 95% CI=1.06-1.82) of ERCC1 rs3212986 were associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer when compared to the GG genotype. Moreover, the GG genotype and G allele of ERCC2 rs13181 had a 2.31 and 1.31 fold risk of pancreatic cancer compared to the TT genotype. However, no significant relationship was observed between ERCC1 rs11615 and rs2298881 genetic polymorphisms and the susceptibility to pancreatic cancer. In conclusion, our study suggests the ERCC1 rs3212986 and ERCC2 rs13181 genetic polymorphisms exposed higher risk to pancreatic cancer regardless of confounding factors.