Shared genetic factors and the interactions with fresh fruit intake contributes to four types squamous cell carcinomas
2024

Genetic and Environmental Factors in Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Sample size: 9700 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Mo Mengqing, Hou Can, Yuan Huangbo, Zhao Renjia, Chen Mingyang, Jiang Yanfeng, Xu Kelin, Zhang Tiejun, Chen Xingdong, Suo Chen

Primary Institution: Fudan University, Shanghai, China

Hypothesis

What are the shared genetic and environmental factors contributing to the risk of pan-squamous cell carcinomas?

Conclusion

The study identified six novel genetic loci associated with increased risk of squamous cell carcinomas, highlighting the significant interaction with fresh fruit intake.

Supporting Evidence

  • Six novel genetic loci associated with squamous cell carcinomas were identified.
  • Fresh fruit intake significantly interacted with genetic risk factors.
  • 270 differentially expressed genes were found in SCC tumor tissues.
  • Pathway enrichment analysis highlighted immune-related functions in SCCs.
  • HLA-A*01 was significantly associated with SCC risk.
  • Keratin genes were overexpressed in SCC tumor tissues.

Takeaway

This study found that both genes and what you eat can affect your chances of getting certain types of skin cancer.

Methodology

The study used a genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 1,928 cases and 7,712 controls from the UK Biobank, analyzing genetic variants and their interactions with lifestyle factors.

Potential Biases

The study may have bias due to the homogeneity of the sample population, primarily consisting of individuals of European descent.

Limitations

The study's findings may be limited by the reliance on data from the UK Biobank and the potential for selection bias due to varying sample sizes across SCC subtypes.

Participant Demographics

The average age of participants was approximately 60 years, with nearly half being female.

Statistical Information

P-Value

5.02×10−9

Confidence Interval

1.19–1.41

Statistical Significance

p<0.05

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0316087

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