Positive effect of single nucleotide RAD51 135G>C polymorphism and low Ku70 protein expression on female rectal cancer patients survival after preoperative radiotherapy.

Background/Aims This is a retrospective analysis of 103 patients having locally advanced rectal cancer who received short-course radiotherapy (SCRT). The objective of the study was to check whether a polymorphism in the RAD51 gene (135 G>C), Ku70 protein expression, and tumor microenvironment: proliferation rate measured by BrdUrdLI and Ki-67LI, hypoxia (glucose transporter-1 expression), P53 protein expression, and DNA ploidy can influence DNA repair capacity, the factors contributing to patient overall survival (OS) and the incidence of recurrences and metastases.