Jul 23 2009
SNPwatch: Genetic Variant May Increase Risk of Follicular Lymphoma
SNPwatch gives you the latest news about research linking various traits and conditions to individual genetic variations. These studies are exciting because they offer a glimpse into how genetics may affect our bodies and health; but in most cases, more work is needed before this research can provide information of value to individuals. For that reason it is important to remember that like all information we provide, the studies we describe in SNPwatch are for research and educational purposes only. SNPwatch is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice; you should always seek the advice of your physician or other appropriate healthcare professional with any questions you may have regarding diagnosis, cure, treatment or prevention of any disease or other medical condition.
Researchers have identified a genetic variant that increases risk of follicular lymphoma (FL), a type of blood cancer.
FL is a type of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), the fifth most common cancer in the U.S. Nearly 20,000 patients die and 66,000 more are diagnosed with NHL each year. The incidence of FL has doubled within the past 30 years.
In a study by Skibola et al., scientists analyzed the genomes of 4,805 people of European descent from the United States, Germany and Canada to search for genetic associations with four different subtypes of lymphoma. The results, published online this week in the journal Nature Genetics, newly linked one SNP to an elevated risk for developing FL in European populations.
FL is a slow-progressing cancer of the white blood cells that affects middle-aged and elderly people. It is usually diagnosed in advanced stages, but patients live approximately 10 to 12 years after diagnosis.
Skibola et al. revealed that having one copy of the C version of rs6457327, a SNP located on chromosome 6, is associated with 1.69 times increased odds of AF. Carrying two copies of C at this SNP is associated with 2.22 times increased odds of FL. A majority of the population carries the C version, so those who have the A version of this SNP seem to be protected from FL.
(23andMe customers can check their data for rs6457327 using the Browse Raw Data feature.)
This SNP is located near a region that is associated with susceptibility to psoriasis. The researchers said that further studies are required to evaluate whether rs6457327 is also associated with psoriasis due to this genetic overlap. Future research may also determine whether FL is associated with exposure to viruses such as HIV.
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