Association of transforming growth factor beta-1 single nucleotide polymorphisms with radiation-induced damage to normal tissues in breast cancer patients

Purpose: To investigate whether transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGFβ1) single nucleotide polymorphisms were associated with the susceptibility of breast cancer patients to severe radiation-induced normal tissue damage. Materials and methods: PCR-RFLP assays were performed for TGFβ1 gene polymorphisms on DNA obtained from 103 breast cancer patients who received radiotherapy. The G-800A, C-509T, T+869C and G+915C polymorphic sites were examined, and genotype and allele frequencies of two subgroups of patients were calculated and compared. Results: The less prevalent -509T and +869C alleles were significantly associated with a subgroup of patients who developed severe radiation-induced normal tissue fibrosis (n=15) when compared with those who did not (n=88) (odds ratio=3.4, p=0.0036, and 2.37, p=0.035, respectively). Furthermore, patients with the -509TT or +869CC genotypes were between seven and 15 times more likely to develop severe fibrosis. Conclusions: These findings imply a role for the -509T and +869C alleles in the pathobiological mechanisms underlying susceptibility to radiation-induced fibrosis. Their predictive value would be limited to patients who are -509TT or +869CC, but if 'fibrosis-associated' polymorphic sites in other genes could be identified, it may be possible to detect fibrosis prone individuals before radiotherapy with greater certainty.