Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Genetic Polymorphisms and Occurrence Risks / 한양의대학술지

ABSTRACT

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), which is the 5th most common cancer worldwide, is believed to be induced by environmental carcinogens and host genetic factors. The main etiologic environmental factors are tobacco, alcohol, viral infection, nutritional deficit, mineral inhalation and history of radiation exposure. Accumulating evidence has shown that genetic polymorphisms influence the risk of environmental carcinogenesis, and that genetic susceptibility plays an important role in the development of HNSCC. Genetic susceptibility to HNSCC may be due to genetic polymorphisms in genes controlling both carcinogen metabolism and repair of DNA damage. We analyzed the associations between genetic polymorphisms in the xenobiotics metabolizing gene, alcohol metabolizing gene and DNA repair genes and the risk of HNSCC in an at-risk Korean population. In conclusion, ADH1B +3170A>G His48Arg and XRCC1 R194W (C>T) polymorphism are associated with an increased risk of HNSCC, and these genotypes could be useful biomarkers for identifying Koreans with a greater risk of HNSCC.