Copenhagen, Denmark
Onsite/Online

ESTRO 2022

Session Item

Biomarkers
6015
Poster (digital)
Clinical
Genetic variability of homologous recombination repair genes and radiotherapy cardiotoxicity
Tanja Marinko, Slovenia
PO-1362

Abstract

Genetic variability of homologous recombination repair genes and radiotherapy cardiotoxicity
Authors:

Tanja Marinko1, Franja Dugar2, Vita Dolžan3, Katja Goričar4

1Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Radiotherapy department, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 2University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 3University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Ljubljana, Slovenia; 4Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Ljubljana, Slovenia

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Purpose or Objective

Despite the significant impact of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) on the survival of HER2-positive early breast cancer patients, they may also experience treatment-related adverse events. The homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway is involved in the repair of double-strand breaks, the most cytotoxic DNA lesions caused by radiation. Genetic variability of DNA repair genes could contribute to the interindividual variability in the occurrence of adverse events. Therefore, the study aimed to evaluate the association of polymorphisms in HRR genes on the occurrence of RT cardiotoxicity in breast cancer patients.

Material and Methods

Our study included 101 HER2-positive early breast cancer patients treated with adjuvant radiotherapy. Markers of cardiotoxicity investigated in the study were LVEF reduction, serum NT-proBNP concentration, and NYHA grade. DNA was isolated from buccal swab samples. All patients were genotyped for eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (NBN rs1805794, rs709816, and rs1063054, RAD51 rs1801320, rs1801321, and rs12593359, XRCC3 rs1799794 and rs861539) using competitive allele-specific PCR. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the association with cardiotoxicity.

Results

Median time after adjuvant RT was 4.0 (2.6-5.4) years. LVEF reduction was observed in 9 (8.9%) patients, increased NT-proBNP in 36 (25.6%) patients, while 17 (16.8%) patients had NYHA grade 2. Among clinical parameters, hyperlipidemia and higher ITM were associated with increased risk for NYHA grade 2 (P=0.012 and P=0.006, respectively). Carriers of two polymorphic RAD51 rs1801321 alleles were significantly more likely to have higher NYHA grade in the univariable analysis (OR=10.0; 95 % CI=1.63-61.33; p=0.013) and after adjustment for clinical variables (OR=9.27; 95 % CI=1.28-67.02; p=0.027). Carriers of two polymorphic RAD51 rs12593359 were significantly less likely to have higher NYHA grade in univariable analysis (OR=0.09; 95 % CI=0.01-0.79; p=0.030) and after adjustment for clinical variables (OR=0.07; 95 % CI=0.01-0.81; p=0.034). None of the investigated polymorphisms was associated with LVEF reduction or serum NT-proBNP concentration.

Conclusion

HRR gene RAD51 polymorphisms might contribute to RT cardiotoxicity and could be used as biomarkers in tailoring breast cancer patient treatment.

Research grants: ARRS J3-1753, ARRS J3-2527, P1-0170 and P3-0321.