Objective This study aimed to explore the roles of three common single nucleotide polymorphisms in the X-ray repair cross-complementing group-1 gene （XRCC1） and of life style factors and their possible interactions in the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC） in China. Methods A population-based case-control study of 432 cases and 915 controls was conducted in Yangzhong County, Jiangsu Province, China. Subjects were interviewed by trained interviewers using a structured questionnaire that included questions on demographics and life style. XRCC1 genotypes were analyzed using a polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR-RFLP） assay. Unconditional logistic regression analysis was used to calculate adjusted odds ratios （aORs） and 95% confidence intervals （CIs） for associations of ESCC with XRCCI polymorphisms and lifestyle-related factors. Results Both the drinking of river water and alcohol intake history were significantly associated with an increased risk of ESCC among men with aORs of 4.20 （95% Ch 2.90-6.07） and 2.03 （95% Ch 1.43-2.89）, respectively. For women, the corresponding odds ratios were 8.37 （95% CI： 5.09-13.75） for river water drinking and 12.78 （95% CI： 2.69-60.69） for long-term stored rice intake. After the XRCC1 G28152A polymorphism was adjusted for potential confounders, subjects with GA and AA genotypes had an increased risk for ESCC （aOR： 1.21, 95% CI： 0.93-1.56）, compared with subjects with a GG genotype, and a positive multiplicative interaction between intake of long-term stored rice and the XRCC1 G28152A polymorphism was observed （P=O.009）.Conclusions Our findings suggest that both lifestyle-related factors, including drinking river water, long-term stored rice and alcohol intake, and the XRCC1 G28152A polymorphism were possible risk factors for ESCC, and that the XRCC1 G28152A polymorphism modified the effect of long-term stored rice intake on the risk of ESCC among Chinese people.
