Evaluation of GALNT16 polymorphisms to breast cancer risk in Chinese population

Polypeptide N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase 16 (GALNT16) is an N-acetylgalactosaminyltransferase gene that alters protein O-glycosylation, which plays a role in tumor development. This study aims to explore the association of eight GALNT16 polymorphisms with susceptibility to breast cancer (BC).

This case-control study included 563 BC patients and 552 age-matched healthy controls from the Chinese Han population. The genotypes of GALNT16 polymorphisms were detected using the Agena MassARRAY. The relationship between GALNT16 polymorphisms and BC risk was evaluated using a chi-squared test with an odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) under five genetic models.

We observed that rs2105269 and rs72625676 were associated with higher BC risk in younger patients with age ≤51 (rs2105269, codominant: p = .006; recessive: p = .005 additive: p = .018; and allele: p = .012; rs72625676, codominant: p = .038; recessive: p = .037). For rs1275678 polymorphism, there was a significantly decreased risk of BC among elder patients (codominant: p = .017; dominant: p = .019; additive: p = .030; and allele: p = .029). Further analysis by clinical characteristics showed rs2105269 was associated with tumor size and lymph node metastasis.

Our study suggests that GALNT16 polymorphisms are associated with BC susceptibility in Chinese population.