ABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the relationship between quinone oxidoreductase1 (NQO1) gene nonsynonymous cSNP and the genetic susceptibility of esophageal cancer.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and Allele-Specific PCR (AS-PCR) were employed to assess the polymorphism of NQO1 genes both in 106 patients with esophageal cancer and control subjects matched by age, gender and origin.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>It was shown that no C/C genotype was found at 406 of NQO1. The allelic frequency of NQO1 609T was significantly higher in patients with esophageal cancer than in the control subjects (P < 0.005) and the individuals with 609T allelic genotype of NQO1 gene were at greater risk to develop esophageal cancer (OR = 4.76, 95% CI = 1.064 - 3.397). But Individuals with mutant allele of NQO1 465 genotype did not show the rising risk of esophageal cancer.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The NQO1 C609T polymorphisms should likely be associated with the genetic susceptibility of esophageal cancer.</p>