Could Allelic Discrimination in ETS2 Predispose Individuals to Breast Cancer?

ABSTRACT

The V-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog2 (ETS2) is known to have a stimulatory role in breast cancer progression. To find out its participation in the development of breast cancer, we have investigated a functional polymorphism in ETS2, rs461155, in a group of breast cancer patients. Allelic and genotypic frequencies obtained were compared with that obtained for ethnically matched healthy control individuals and data reported for four other ethnic groups in the HapMap project. Significant differences in genotypic frequencies were obtained between breast cancer patients and control individuals (p < 0.0001). Ethnic groups reported to have higher frequency of breast cancer were observed to have higher frequency of the “G” allele (p < 0.01). In silico analysis revealed that this allele interferes in proper splicing of the ETS2 transcript and thus can alter function of the protein which in turn can influence breast cancer development.