Association of HOTAIR (rs920778 C>T) Polymorphism with Thyroid Cancer Susceptibility in the Northwest of Iran

HOTAIR is a long noncoding RNA, that is transcribed from the antisense strand of the homeobox C gene and acts as an oncogene. The aim of this study was to assess the association of HOTAIR (rs920778 C>T) gene polymorphism with the risk of thyroid cancer in the northwest of Iran.

In this case-control study we investigated association of HOTAIR (rs920778 C>T) gene polymorphism with thyroid cancer susceptibility in a statistical population consisting of 109 patients and 198 healthy controls by PCR-PFLP. Statistical analysis was performed using javastat online statistics package and SPSS V.26.

The frequency rates of TT, CC, and TC genotypes were 46.78%, 29.35%, and 23.85% in the case group, and 38.88%, 20.20%, and 40.90% in the control group respectively. Statistical analysis showed a significant association between TC genotype (p-value=0.003) (OR=0.452, CI 95%=0.268-0.764) and thyroid cancer risk. Also, C and T allele frequency rates, were 41.28% and 58.71% in the case group and 40.65% and 59.34% in the control group respectively. There was no significant relationship between T (p-value=0.088) and C (p-value=0.088) allele frequency rates and thyroid cancer risk in the northwest of Iran.

These findings suggested that rs920778 C>T polymorphism may be associated with increased susceptibility of thyroid cancer in the northwest of Iran. There was no significant association between rs920778C >T polymorphism and patient’s pathological characteristics consisting of age, tumor grade, lymph node involvement, side involved, tumor size, tumor stage and type of thyroid tumor.