Potassium Channel Candidate Genes Predict the Development of Secondary Lymphedema Following Breast Cancer Surgery.
Betty Smoot, Kord M Kober, Steven M Paul and 6 others
PMID 28252570WHAT IT FOUND
After breast cancer surgery, variants in potassium channel genes were associated with developing lymphedema.
Some variants were associated with lower risk, others with higher risk. These are preliminary genetic associations, not a clinical risk test.
Key findings
01Genotype differences were found across four potassium channel genes, and after adjustment only selected SNPs remained significant.
02For KCNA1 rs4766311, carrying two doses of the rare T allele was associated with 59% lower odds of being in the lymphedema group.
03For KCNJ6 rs2211845, having one or two doses of the rare C allele was associated with a 1.9 fold greater odds of being in the lymphedema group.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The analyses were exploratory candidate gene tests, and no adjustment for multiple testing was made. The sample size did not allow interaction effects or genome-wide association studies. The associated SNPs have no known functional consequences, so they may be markers rather than causes. The findings are preliminary and need confirmation in larger samples.
Declared interests
The authors reported no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these genetic associations as a clinical risk score or as evidence that potassium channel genes cause lymphedema. The study was exploratory, did not adjust for multiple testing, and the SNPs have no known function.