Role of NQO1 polymorphisms as risk factors for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck

• Published in: Oral oncology Vol. 41; no. 9; pp. 927 - 933
• Main Authors: Begleiter, Asher, Norman, Alia, Leitao, Darren, Cabral, Teresa, Hewitt, Donna, Pan, Sushu, Grandis, Jennifer R., Siegfried, Jill M., El-Sayed, Samy, Sutherland, Donna, Ross, David A., Kerr, Paul D.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.10.2005; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Biological and medical sciences; Cancer risk; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - enzymology; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - genetics; Epidemiologic Methods; Female; Genotype; Head and Neck Neoplasms - enzymology; Head and Neck Neoplasms - genetics; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone) - genetics; NQO1; Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous); Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics; Polymorphisms; Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; Tumors; NQO1; Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck; Polymorphisms; Cancer risk; Human; NAD-(P)-H dehydrogenase (quinone); NADPH:quinone reductase; Squamous cell carcinoma; Enzyme; Stomatology; Malignant tumor; Cancerology; Risk factor; ENT disease; Oxidoreductases; Head and neck carcinoma; Polymorphism
• ISSN: 1368-8375; 1879-0593
• DOI: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2005.05.004

A case:control study was carried out to determine if inactivating polymorphisms of the NQO1 gene at bases 609 and 465 are associated with altered risk of developing squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Genotyping was carried out by PCR RFLP analysis on whole blood samples. The frequency of the inactive 609T and active 609C forms, and the inactive 465T and active 465C forms, of NQO1 were compared in patient and control groups by a logistic regression analysis and odds ratios (ORs) were calculated. Participants were stratified by tobacco and alcohol use, and genotype distributions in these sub-groups were compared. There were no significant differences in genotype distribution between SCCHN patients and the control population for the base 609 or 465 polymorphisms. There were also no significant differences in genotype distributions between patient and control groups for tobacco and/or alcohol users and non-users. Genotype distributions were similar for SCCHN patients at all disease sites with the exception of the nasopharynx where there was a higher incidence of the 609C:609T and 609T:609T genotypes. These results suggest that individuals having either 609T or 465T alleles generally do not have an altered risk of developing SCCHN.