Association of the Polymorphism of the Estrogen-Related Receptor Gamma (ERRγ) Gene and the Risk of Breast Cancer in the Population of Isfahan

Breast cancer is a hormone-dependent tumor which is regulated by steroid hormones including estrogen and progesterone. Therefore، estrogen-related receptors (ERRs) which belong to orphan nuclear receptor groups can interfere with the estrogen signaling pathway and cause the growth of solid tumors. In the present study، blood samples of 150 women with breast cancer and 150 healthy women were collected from Omid (Seyedoshohada) Cancer Hospital، Isfahan University of Medical Sciences and Clinical Laboratory، Alzahra Hospital، Isfahan University of Medical Sciences، Iran، respectively. DNA was extracted and amplified. Then، some of the alleles in variable sizes were sequenced and used as allele specific markers for exact determination of the number of AAAG repeats in other samples. This study was performed to determine the association between breast cancer risk and alleles of the tetranucleotide repeat (AAAG) n microsatellite in the intron of the ERRγ gene. Our results showed that women with short AAAG repeats were at higher risk of breast cancer (OR=7. 14). These results suggest the possible involvement of the polymorphic AAAG repeat of the ERRγ gene in regulating its expression. Therefore، the shortest alleles of this polymorphism with 6 and 7 repeats of AAAG may be useful as a biomarker for breast cancer prognosis.