BACKGROUND: Glioblastoma (GBM) is a highly invasive, aggressive, and incurable brain tumor. Genetic factors play important roles in GBM risk. The aim of this study was to elucidate the influence of gene polymorphism on GBM susceptibility.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this case-control study, we included 72 GBM patients and 320 healthy controls to analyze the association between 29 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and GBM cancer risk in the Chinese Han population. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms were determined by Sequenom MassARRAY RS1000 and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software and SNPStats software.

RESULTS: Using the χ2 test, we found that rs2297440 and rs6010620 in RTEL1 increased risk of GBM. In the recessive model, we also found that the genotypes “CC” of rs2297440 and “GG” of rs6010620 in RTEL1 significantly increased GBM risk. The variant TT genotype of TREH rs17748 and the variant TT genotype of PHLDB1 rs498872 decreased GBM risk in the recessive model. We also found that the TREH rs17748 variant C allele showed an increased risk in males in the dominant model.

CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest a significant association between the RETL1, TREH, and PHLDB1 genes and GBM development in the Han Chinese population.

Keywords: Case-Control Studies, Brain Neoplasms - genetics, DNA Helicases - genetics, Ethnic Groups - genetics, Genetic Predisposition to Disease, Glioblastoma - genetics, Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins - genetics, Nerve Tissue Proteins - genetics, Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide, Risk Factors, Trehalase - genetics