Association of DNase I phenotype 2 with colorectal carcinoma risk in Japanese populations

We have already demonstrated a significant association of deoxyribonuclease I (DNase I; EC3.1.21.1) polymorphism with liver disease and gastric carcin oma. The aim of this study was to determine whether DNase I polymorphism is closely related to the incident of colorectal carcinoma. We have found a c lose statistical association between colorectal carcinoma and a high freque ncy of DNase I phenotype 2 in Japanese populations. However, there was no s ignificant difference in the phenotype distribution between a group of pati ents with benign diseases and controls. These findings suggest that DNase I phenotype 2 may be potentially useful for identifying patients who are at risk of harboring or developing colorectal carcinoma. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.