Native American ancestry affects the risk for gene methylation in the lungs of Hispanic smokers from New Mexico.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Gene promoter methylation detected in sputum predicts lung cancer risk in smokers. Compared with non-Hispanic whites (NHW), Hispanics have a lower age-standardized incidence for lung cancer.

Objectives

This study compared the methylation prevalence in sputum of NHWs with Hispanics using the Lovelace Smokers cohort (n = 1998) and evaluated the effect of Native American ancestry (NAA) and diet on biomarkers for lung cancer risk.

Methods

Genetic ancestry was estimated using 48 ancestry markers. Diet was assessed by the Harvard University Dietary Assessment questionnaire. Methylation of 12 genes was measured in sputum using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. The association between NAA and risk for methylation was assessed using generalized estimati

SUBMITTER: Leng S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3863742 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature