Genome-wide association scan identifies a colorectal cancer susceptibility locus on 11q23 and replicates risk loci at 8q24 and 18q21

In a genome-wide association study to identify loci associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, we genotyped 555,510 SNPs in 1,012 early- onset Scottish CRC cases and 1,012 controls (phase 1). In phase 2, we genotyped the 15,008 highest-ranked SNPs in 2,057 Scottish cases and 2,111 controls. We then genotyped the five highest-ranked SNPs from the joint phase 1 and 2 analysis in 14,500 cases and 13,294 controls from seven populations, and identified a previously unreported association, rs3802842 on 11q23 (OR 1.1; P=5.8 x 10(-10)),showing population differences in risk. We also replicated and fine-mapped associations at 8q24 (rs7014346; OR 1.19; P=8.6x10(-26)) and 18q21 (rs4939827; OR 1.2; P=7.8 x 10(-28)). Risk was greater for rectal than for colon cancer for rs3802842 (P < 0.008) and rs4939827 (P < 0.009). Carrying all six possible risk alleles yielded OR 2.6 (95% CI 1.75-3.89) for CRC. These findings extend our understanding of the role of common genetic variation in CRC etiology.