Fluctuating Asymmetry of Dermatoglyphics and DNA Polymorphism in Breast Cancer Population

Fluctuating asymmetry of dermatoglyphics can be represented as a biomarker of genetic instability of DNA. The difference in the dermatoglyphic pattern between right and left hands may express the existence of defective gene and the developmental stress of an individual. Thereby Fluctuating asymmetry of dermatoglyphics can be used to screen population with defective gene causing Breast cancer. To investigate this hypothesis the present study has taken an attempt to prove the genetic basis of asymmetry of dermal ridges by analyzing its association with specific DNA repair genetic variants in breast cancer.

Method: The cross-sectional study is being conducted among 150 females in three groups, each comprising of 50 participants. The distinct variables of dermatoglyphics are Fluctuating Asymmetry (FA) of Finger Rindge Count Thumb, Index, Middle, Ring, and Little finger, Fluctuating asymmetry of A-B Ridge count, ATD angle and Main Line Index. All the dermatoglyphic parameters are assessed individually for its association with the Single Nucleotide Polymorphism status of four DNA repair genetic variants namely XRCC1 Arg194Trp, XRCC3Thr241Met, ERCC4Arg 415Gln, and ERCC5 Asp1104His. The frequencies of appearance of all the genotype for each distinctive dermatoglyphic variables are analyzed. The statistical procedure used to analyze the frequency of association is odds ratio and relative risk ratio.

Results: The relative risk is about 2 to 4 times for dermatoglyphic variable FA thumb, FA ring and FA A-B Ridge Count with statistical significance for XRCC1 Arg194Trp and ERCC4 Arg 415Gln variant allele in breast cancer, XRCC1 Arg194Trp and ERCC4 Arg 415Gln and ERCC5 Asp1104His in high risk group in their dominant model.

Conclusion: Results confirms that the Fluctuating Asymmetry of dermatoglyphics can be recommended and used as an effective biomarker of genetic instability in breast cancer.