Polymorphism of lncRNAs in breast cancer: Meta-analysis shows no association with susceptibility.

BACKGROUND Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been the target of considerable attention for their roles in many biological processes. Only a small portion of lncRNAs are functionally characterized, and several approaches have been proposed to investigate the roles of these molecules, including how polymorphisms in lncRNA genomic sites may interfere with their function. Allele frequency variation in single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), for example, has been associated with several diseases, including breast cancer (BC), the most common type of cancer in women. METHODS In this study, we performed a systematic review of lncRNA SNPs associated with breast cancer and a meta-analysis of some lncRNA SNPs. We found 31 SNPs mapped in 12 lncRNAs associated with breast cancer in 28 case-control studies. RESULTS Our meta-analysis showed an insignificant difference between the SNPs rs217727, rs3741219, rs2107425, rs2839698 on H19, and rs920778, rs1899663, rs12826786, and rs4759314 on HOTAIR and BC susceptibility. CONCLUSION However, this analysis recognized the importance of extensive association studies, including different populations, and further evaluation of potential functional effects caused by lncRNA SNPs. Nevertheless, genetic variants like SNPs in lncRNAs may play many other essential roles, but this field is still under explored.