Association of leukocyte mitochondrial DNA copy number with colorectal cancer risk: Results from the Shanghai Women's Health Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Mitochondria play an important role in cellular energy metabolism, free radical production, and apoptosis, and thus may be involved in cancer development.

Methods

We evaluated mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number in peripheral leukocytes in relation to colorectal cancer risk in a case-control study of 444 colorectal cancer cases and 1,423 controls nested in the Shanghai Women's Health Study, a population-based, prospective cohort study. Relative mtDNA copy number was determined by a quantitative real-time PCR assay using peripheral leukocyte DNA samples collected at the time of study enrollment, before cancer diagnosis.

Results

We found that baseline mtDNA copy number was lower among women who subsequently developed colorectal cancer [geometric mean, 0.277

SUBMITTER: Huang B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4221544 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature