A miR-SNP of the XPO5 gene is associated with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer.

Objective: MicroRNA (miRNA)-related single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in miRNA processing machinery genes can affect cancer risk, treatment efficacy, and patient prognosis. A miR-SNP of rs11077 located in the 3' untranslated region (3' UTR) of the miRNA processing machinery gene XPO5 was examined in 112 advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients to evaluate its association with cancer outcome.

Methods: The miR-SNP was genotyped with ligase detection reaction method. Survival curves were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate survival analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazards model.

Results: The AC genotype of rs11077, which carries C or A allele, was significantly associated with a better chemotherapy response (P = 0.001). In addition, rs11077 was independently associated with overall survival in advanced NSCLC patients through multivariate analysis (relative risk 0.457; 95% confidence interval: 0.251-0.831; P = 0.010).

Conclusions: rs11077 was associated with chemotherapy response and survival of advanced NSCLC patients. The analysis of miR-SNPs in miRNA processing machinery genes can help identify patient subgroups that are at high risk for poor disease outcomes.