Polymorphisms in the DUSP10 gene are associated with sex-specific colorectal cancer risk in a Han population

Aims and background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is common, especially in developed countries. CRC is a multifactorial disease influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. In this study, we investigated the role of genetic polymorphisms in the dual specificity protein phosphatase 10 (DUSP10) gene especially in sex-specific. Methods: We selected nine DUSP10 tag single nucleotide polymorphisms (tSNPs) previously reported to be associated with colorectal cancer risk of in a case-control study from Xi'an city of China. Results: In females, three SNPs were associated with decreased CRC risk: rs11118838, rs12724393, and rs908858. However, in males, only one SNP, rs908858, was associated with decreased CRC risk. Using a log-additive model, the rs11118838 "C" allele and the rs12724393 "G" allele were associated with decreased CRC risk in females, while the rs908858 "G" allele was associated with decreased CRC risk in both females and males. In addition, haplotype analysis also found "CG" and "CCT" were associated with the decreased CRC risk in females. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that DUSP10 polymorphisms influence the risk of developing CRC in Han Chinese and emphasize that sex should be considered in the design and analysis of health studies and biomedical research.