Related Articles

Insulin-like growth factor binding protein 7 (IGFBP7) functions mostly independent of the IGF signaling pathway and acts as a tumor suppressor in multiple cancers, but roles of IGFBP7 genetic variants in cancer remains unknown. In a hospital-based study of 1,065 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN) and 1,112 cancer-free controls of non-Hispanic whites, we investigated associations between two putatively functional IGFBP7 promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) (−702G>C, rs11573014 and −418G>A, rs4075349) and SCCHN risk. A significantly lower SCCHN risk was observed in those subjects carrying −418AG (adjusted OR=0.82, 95% CI=0.67–0.99) and −418AG+AA (adjusted OR=0.82, 95% CI=0.69–0.99) genotypes than those carrying the −418GG genotype, but not for the −702G>C SNP. However, those subjects carrying two common homozygous genotypes of these two SNPs (−418GG and −702GG) had an increased risk (adjusted OR=1.21, 95% CI=1.00-0.1.46) than did those carrying variant genotypes (−418AG+AA and −702CG+CC). This increased risk was more evident in subgroups of never smokers and subjects with oral cancer. Further functional analysis showed that the IGFBP7 −418A allele had significantly higher promoter and DNA-protein binding activities than did the G allele, suggesting a tumor suppressor role of this allelic change in the SCCHN etiology. We conclude that the functional variant −418 G>C in the IGFBP7 promoter is associated with reduced risk of SCCHN, likely by enhancing the IGFBP7 promoter and DNA-protein binding activities. Larger studies are needed to validate our findings.

Background

Recent studies reported associations of the relative telomere length (RTL) and TERT variants with risk of several cancers, which has not been comprehensively investigated in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Methods

We detected RTL in peripheral blood lymphocytes and genotyped six selected functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the TERT gene in 888 SCCHN cases and 885 cancer-free controls of non-Hispanic whites.

Results

Overall, we did not observe significant associations between RTL and SCCHN risk (adjusted OR, 0.97; 95% CI, 0.80–1.17 for below versus above the median; Ptrend = 0.618) nor between the six TERT SNPs and SCCHN risk. We also found no associations between RTL and TERT SNPs.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that RTL and TERT functional polymorphisms may not play a major role in the etiology of SCCHN. Large prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.

Impact

Although our results suggest no association among RTL, TERT functional polymorphisms, and SCCHN risk, this study may contribute to future meta-analysis.

Background

Phospholipase C epsilon 1 (PLCE1) (an effector of Ras) belonging to the phospholipase family plays crucial roles in carcinogenesis and progression of several cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, rs2274223) in PLCE1 has been identified as a novel susceptibility locus in genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and gastric cardia adenocarcinoma (GCA) that share similar risk factors with SCCHN. Therefore, we investigated the association between potentially functional SNPs in PLCE1 and susceptibility to SCCHN.

Methods

We genotyped three potentially functional SNPs (rs2274223A/G, rs3203713A/G and rs11599672T/G) of PLCE1 in 1,098 SCCHN patients and 1,090 controls matched by age and sex in a non-Hispanic white population.

Results

Although none of three SNPs was alone significantly associated with overall risk of SCCHN, their combined effects of risk alleles (rs2274223G, rs3203713G and rs11599672G) were found to be associated with risk of SCCHN in a locus-dose effect manner (Ptrend = 0.046), particularly for non-oropharyngeal tumors (Ptrend = 0.017); specifically, rs2274223 was associated with a significantly increased risk (AG vs. AA: adjusted OR = 1.29, 95% CI = 1.01-1.64; AG/GG vs. AA: adjusted OR = 1.30, 95% CI = 1.03-1.64), while rs11599672 was associated with a significantly decreased risk (GG vs. TT: adjusted OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.34-0.86; TG/GG vs. TT: adjusted OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.61-0.95).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that PLCE1 variants may have an effect on risk of SCCHN associated with tobacco and alcohol exposure, particularly for those tumors arising at non-oropharyngeal sites. These findings, although need to be validated by larger studies, are consistent with those in esophageal and gastric cancers.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of TERT-rs2736098 (C > T) and CLPTM1L-rs401681(C > T) at the 5p15.33 locus are significantly associated with cancer risk as reported in genome-wide association studies (GWAS), but there are no reported studies for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). In a case–control study of 1079 SCCHN cases and 1115 cancer-free controls of non-Hispanic whites who were frequency matched by age and sex, we genotyped for these two SNPs and assessed their associations with SCCHN risk. Compared with the CC genotypes of each polymorphism, the associations of a slightly reduced risk of SCCHN with the variant genotypes of CT + TT of both polymorphisms were approaching statistical significance [Odds ratio (OR) = 0.90, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.76–1.08 for TERT-rs2736098 and OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.71–1.04 for CLPTM1L-rs401681, respectively]. When the two SNPs were combined, the variant genotypes of the two SNPs were significantly associated a moderately reduced risk of SCCHN (OR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.67–0.99), and the number of variant genotypes was associated with a significantly reduced risk in a dose–response manner (P = 0.028). Furthermore, the reduced risk was more pronounced in ever smokers, ever drinkers and patients with oropharyngeal cancer. Our results suggested that these two SNPs at the 5p15.33 locus may be associated with a reduced risk of SCCHN, particularly for their combined effect. Although we added additional evidence for the association of the two SNPs with cancer risk as reported in GWAS, additional studies are needed to replicate our findings.

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is involved in inflammation and carcinogenesis. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is also regarded as anti-inflammatory factors with the multi-functional ability to positively and negatively influence functional immunity and tumor development. Genetic polymorphisms of COX-2 and IL-10 might contribute to the development of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association of COX-2 and IL-10 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the risk of SCCHN in a Korean sample. We analyzed the COX-2 SNPs, -1329A>G, +1266C>T, and +6365T>C, and the IL-10 SNPs, -1082A>G, +920T>G, and +3917T>C, in 290 Korean SCCHN patients and 358 healthy controls. There was no significant association between the risk of SCCHN and the three COX-2 or three IL-10 SNPs. We analyzed three haplotypes (ht1, ht2, ht3) for COX-2 and found that COX-2 ht3+/+ was associated with a decreased risk of SCCHN in a Korean sample, compared with the COX-2 ht3 -/- genotype (P=0.03). Two haplotypes (ht1, ht2) of IL-10 were analyzed and there was no statistical significance in the distribution of haplotypes. Based on these results, the COX-2 haplotype ht3 can be used as a molecular biomarker to predict low risk groups of SCCHN in a Korean sample.

PIN1, a new peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerase, regulates the conformation of Pro-directed phosphorylation sites, revealing a new postphosphorylation regulatory mechanism. PIN1-induced conformational changes potentiate multiple oncogenic signaling pathways, and PIN1 overexpression is reported as a prevalent and specific event in human cancers. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that common polymorphisms in the coding and promoter regions of PIN1 are associated with risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We genotyped three selected PIN1 polymorphisms (−842G>C, −667T>C and Gln33Gln) in a hospital-based case–control study of 1006 patients with SCCHN and 1007 cancer-free control subjects. We found that the −842C variant genotypes were associated with decreased risk for SCCHN [Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.74; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.59–0.93 for the CG genotype, OR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.34–2.01 for the CC genotype and OR = 0.74; 95% CI = 0.59–0.93 for CG+CC genotypes, compared with the GG genotype]. However, no altered risks were observed for −667T>C and Gln33Gln polymorphisms. Further experiments of the reporter gene expression driven by the allelic PIN1 promoter showed that the −842G allele had a higher activity than that driven by the −842C allele, suggesting that the −842C allele was associated with a reduced transcriptional activity, a finding consistent with a reduced risk observed in the case–control analysis. Large prospective studies of diverse ethnic groups and diverse cancer sites are warranted to validate our findings.

Objectives

Xeroderma pigmentosum group G (XPG) protein is essential for the nucleotide excision repair (NER) system, and genetic variations in XPG/ERCC5 that affect DNA repair capacity may contribute to the risk of tobacco-induced cancers, including squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We investigated the association between XPG/ERCC5 polymorphisms and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Methods

We genotyped 12 tagging and potentially functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of XPG/ERCC5 in a case-control study of 1,059 non-Hispanic white patients with SCCHN and 1,066 cancer-free age-and sex matched controls and evaluated their associations with SCCHN risk.

Results

Multivariate logistic regression showed that only an intronic tagging SNP (rs4150351A/C) of XPG/ERCC5 was associated with a decreased risk of SCCHN (adjusted OR=0.76, 95% CI=0.62–0.92 for AC vs. AA; adjusted OR=0.81, 95% CI=0.67–0.98 for AC/CC vs. AA), but this association was nonsignificnant after corrections by the permutation test (empirical P=0.105). In the genotype-phenotype correlation analysis using peripheral lymphocytes from 44 SCCHN patients, we found that rs4150351 AC/CC was associated with a statistically significant increase in XPG/ERCC5 mRNA expression.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that genetic variation in XPG/ERCC5 may not affect the SCCHN risk, although rs4150351 C variant genotypes were associated with the increased expression of XPG/ERCC5 mRNA and nonsignificantly decreased risk of SCCHN. Larger population-based and additional functional studies are warranted to validate our findings.

Methylating agents are involved in carcinogenesis, and the DNA repair protein O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) removes methyl group from O6-methylguanine. Genetic variation in DNA repair genes has been shown to contribute to susceptibility to squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We hypothesize that MGMT polymorphisms are associated with risk of SCCHN. In a hospital-based case-control study of 721 patients with SCCHN and 1,234 cancer-free controls frequency-matched by age, sex and ethnicity, we genotyped four MGMT polymorphisms, two in exon 3, 16196C>T and 16286C>T and two in the promoter region, 45996G>T and 46346C>A. We found that none of these polymorphisms alone had a significant effect on risk of SCCHN. However, when these four polymorphisms were evaluated together by the number of putative risk genotypes (i.e. 16195CC, 16286CC, 45996GT+TT, and 46346CA+AA), a statistically significantly increased risk of SCCHN was associated with the combined genotypes with three to four risk genotypes, compared with those with zero to two risk genotypes [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.27; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05-1.53]. This increased risk was also more pronounced among young subjects (OR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.11-2.96), men (OR = 1.24; 95% CI = 1.00-1.55), ever smokers (OR = 1.25; 95% = 1.01-1.56), ever drinkers (OR = 1.29; 95% CI = 1.04-1.60), patients with oropharyngeal cancer (OR = 1.45; 95% CI = 1.12-1.87), and oropharyngeal cancer with regional lymph node metastasis (OR = 1.52; 95% CI = 1.16-2.01). In conclusion, our results suggest that any one of MGMT variants may not have a substantial effect on SCCHN risk, but a joint effect of several MGMT variants may contribute to risk and progression of SCCHN, particularly for oropharyngeal cancer, in non-Hispanic whites.

Background

Excision repair cross-complementation group 4 gene (ERCC4/XPF) plays an important role in nucleotide excision repair and participates in removal of DNA interstrand cross-links and DNA double-strand breaks. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in ERCC4 may impact repair capacity and affect cancer susceptibility.

Methodology/Principal Findings

In this case-control study, we evaluated associations of four selected potentially functional SNPs in ERCC4 with risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) in 1,040 non-Hispanic white patients with SCCHN and 1,046 cancer-free matched controls. We found that the variant GG genotype of rs2276466 was significantly associated with a decreased risk of SCCHN (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.50–0.96), and that the variant TT genotype of rs3136038 showed a borderline significant decreased risk with SCCHN (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.58–1.01) in the recessive model. Such protective effects were more evident in oropharyngeal cancer (OR = 0.61, 95% CI: 0.40–0.92 for rs2276466; OR = 0.69, 95% CI: 0.48–0.98 for rs3136038). No significant associations were found for the other two SNPs (rs1800067 and rs1799798). In addition, individuals with the rs2276466 GG or with the rs3136038 TT genotypes had higher levels of ERCC4 mRNA expression than those with the corresponding wild-type genotypes in 90 Epstein-Barr virus-transformed lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from Caucasians.

Conclusions

These results suggest that these two SNPs (rs2276466 and rs3136038) in ERCC4 may be functional and contribute to SCCHN susceptibility. However, our findings need to be replicated in further large epidemiological and functional studies.

Although the role of TNFAIP2 is still unclear, it is an important gene involved in apoptosis, and there are single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at its microRNA (miRNA)-binding sites that could modulate miRNA target gene function. In this study, we evaluated associations of four selected SNPs (rs8126 T > C, rs710100 G > A, rs1052912 G > A and rs1052823 G > T) in the miRNA-binding sites of the 3′ untranslated region (UTR) with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) risk in 1077 patients with SCCHN and 1073 cancer-free controls in a non-Hispanic White population. We found that, compared with the rs8126 TT genotype, the variant C allele were associated with increased SCCHN risk in an allele dose–response manner (adjusted odds ratio = 1.48 and 95% confidence interval = 1.06–2.05 for CC, respectively; Ptrend = 0.009). No significant associations were seen for the other three SNPs (rs710100 G > A, rs1052912 G > A and rs1052823 G > T). Additionally, we identified that the rs8126 T > C SNP is within the miR-184 seed binding region in the 3′ UTR of TNFAIP2. Further functional analyses showed that the rs8126 variant C allele led to significantly lower luciferase activity, compared with the T allele. In the genotype–phenotype correlation analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from 64 SCCHN patients, the rs8126 CC genotype was associated with reduced expression of TNFAIP2 messenger RNA. Taken together, these findings indicate that the miR-184 binding site SNP (rs8126 T > C) in the 3′ UTR of TNFAIP2 is functional by modulating TNFAIP2 expression and contributes to SCCHN susceptibility. Larger replication studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Abstracts

Background

The cooperation between phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate induced protein 1 (NOXA) and myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL1) is critical in the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. Human papillomavirus 16 (HPV16), by inducing p53 and pRb-E2F degradation, may play an essential role in development of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) through NOXA-MCL1 axis-mediated apoptosis. Therefore, genetic variants of NOXA and MCL1 may modify the SCCHN risk associated with HPV16 seropositivity.

Methods

HPV16 serology was obtained by immunoadsorption assay. Four functional SNPs in the promoter of NOXA (rs9957673, rs4558496) and MCL1 (rs9803935, rs3738485) were genotyped for 380 cases and 335 frequency-matched cancer-free controls of non-Hispanic whites.

Results

Associations between the four polymorphisms and SCCHN risk were not significant, while we observed a significantly joint effect on SCCHN risk between the polymorphisms and HPV16 seropositivity. Notably, this effect modification was particularly pronounced for oropharyngeal cancer in subgroups including never smokers, never drinkers and younger subjects.

Conclusions

Our results suggested that polymorphisms of NOXA and MCL1 may modify the risk of HPV16-associated oropharyngeal cancer. The further identification of population subgroups at higher risk provides evidence that HPV-targeting treatment may help benefit SCCHN. However, larger studies are needed to validate our findings.

DNA-methyltransferase-3B (DNMT3B) may play an oncogenic role during tumorigenesis, and its genetic variants have been reportedly to be associated with risk of several cancers, but few studies have investigated their roles in head and neck cancer. Here we report a hospital-based case-control study with 832 SCCHN patients and 843 cancer-free controls of non-Hispanic whites that evaluated the association between two DNMT3B single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) DNMT3B-149C>T (rs2424913) and DNMT3B-579G>T (rs2424909) in the promoter region and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We found that compared with C-allele carriers, the DNMT3B-149 TT genotype was statistically significantly associated with increased risk of SCCHN (adjusted OR, 1.35, 95% CI, 1.01-1.80, P = 0.043), whereas the DNMT3B-579 TT genotype showed only a non-statistically significant risk compared with G-allele carriers. Further analysis of the effects of combined genotypes suggested that subjects with either DNMT3B-149 TT or DNMT3B-579 TT homozygous genotypes had statistically significantly increased risk of SCCHN (adjusted OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.07-1.73, P = 0.013). Stratification analysis showed a more profound risk in the subgroups of the young (≤57 years, the median age of the controls), males, current smokers, current drinkers, and patients with primary tumor sites of pharynx and larynx. This large study provides reliable risk estimates for associations between DNMT3B variants and SCCHN risk in non-Hispanic whites, and our findings are consistent with that of previously reported cancer case-control studies of other cancers. Further mechanistic studies are needed to unravel the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Both p53 tumor suppressor and murine double minute 2 (MDM2) oncoprotein are crucial in carcinogenesis. We hypothesized that MDM2 promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)309, A2164G, and p53 codon 72 SNP are associated with risk and age at onset of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN). We genotyped these SNPs in a study of 1,083 Caucasian SCCHN cases and 1,090 cancer-free controls. Although none of these SNPs individually had a significant effect on risk of SCCHN, nor did their combined putative risk genotypes (i.e. MDM2 SNP309 GT + GG, 2164 AA, and p53 codon 72 CC), we found that individuals with 2–3 risk genotypes had significantly increased risk of non-oropharyngeal cancer (OR = 1.42; 95% CI=1.07–1.88). This increased risk was more pronounced among young subjects, men, smokers, and drinkers. In addition, female patients carrying the MDM2 SNP309 GT and GG genotypes showed a 3-year (56.7 years) and 9-year (51.2 years) earlier age at onset of non-oropharyngeal cancer (Ptrend = 0.007), respectively, compared with those carrying the TT genotype (60.1 years). The youngest age (42.5 years) at onset of non-oropharyngeal cancer was observed in female patients with the combined MDM2 SNP309 GG and p53 codon 72 CC genotypes. The findings suggest that MDM2 SNP309, A2164G, and p53 codon 72 SNPs may collectively contribute to non-oropharyngeal cancer risk and that MDM2 SNP309 individually or in combination with p53 codon 72 may accelerate the development of non-oropharyngeal cancer in women. Further studies with large sample sizes are warranted to validate these results.

BACKGROUND

The p53 pathway plays a critical role in maintaining genomic stability and preventing tumor formation. Given the roles of both MDM4 and HPV16 E6 oncoproteins in inhibition of p53 activity, we tested the hypothesis that MDM4 polymorphisms are associated with the risk of HPV16-associated squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck (SCCHN).

METHODS

Genotyping was conducted on three tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms (rs11801299 G>A, rs10900598 G>T, and rs1380576 C>G) in MDM4, and serology was used to determine HPV 16 exposure in 380 cases and 335 cancer-free controls that were frequency-matched by age, sex, smoking, and drinking status.

RESULTS

None of three MDM4 polymorphisms alone was significantly associated with risk of overall SCCHN. With further analysis stratified by HPV16 serology and tumor site, we found that each polymorphism individually modified the risk of HPV16-associated squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx (SCCOP), and such effect modification was particularly pronounced in never smokers and never drinkers.

CONCLUSION

The risk of HPV16-associated SCCOP could be modified by MDM4 polymorphisms. Large and prospective studies are needed to validate our findings.

Fas-associated phosphatase-1 is encoded by the protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 13 (PTPN13) gene and attributes to the resistance to Fas-mediated apoptosis in several tumors, including squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). However, no epidemiological studies have investigated the roles of PTPN13 polymorphisms in SCCHN risk. In this hospital-based case–control study of 1069 SCCHN patients and 1102 non-Hispanic white cancer-free controls, we evaluated the associations between three single-nucleotide polymorphisms c.4068 T>G F1356L (rs10033029), c.4566 A>G I1522M (rs2230600) and c.6241 T>G Y2081D (rs989902) located in the coding region of PTPN13 and SCCHN risk. We found that a significantly increased SCCHN risk was associated with the c.4566 I1522M GG genotype [odds ratio (OR), 1.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.27–2.79] and c.6241 Y2081D GT genotype (OR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.03–1.53) compared with the c.4566 I1522M AA and c.6241 Y2081D TT genotypes, respectively. Further stratified analyses showed that risk associated with the c.4566 I1522M GG genotype was more profound in the subgroups of young (≤57 years), males, never smokers, current drinkers and patients with pharyngeal cancer; that risk associated with c.6241 Y2081D GT genotype persisted in subgroups of old (>57 years), males, current drinkers and patients with pharyngeal and laryngeal cancers and that risk associated with c.6241 Y2081D GG genotype was borderline in patients with laryngeal cancer. In conclusion, polymorphisms in the PTPN13 coding region may be biomarkers for susceptibility to SCCHN in USA populations.

Purpose

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) detoxify carcinogens in tobacco smoke, which plays a major role not only in development of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) but also second primary malignancy (SPM) after index SCCHN.

Experimental Design

We hypothesized that GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null, GSTP1 Ile105Val, and GSTP1 Ala114Val polymorphisms would individually, and more likely, collectively demonstrate an association with risk of SPM after index SCCHN. 1,376 incident SCCHN patients were prospectively recruited between May 1996 and December 2006, genotyped, and followed for SPM development.

Results

110 patients (8%) developed SPM: 43 (39%) second SCCHN, 38 (35%) other tobacco-associated sites, and 29 (26%) other non tobacco-associated sites. Patients with GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism had a statistically significant association with risk of SPM development [adjusted hazard ratio (HR),1.7; 95% confidence interval (CI),1.1-2.5)]. However, no statistically significant associations were observed with GSTM1, GSTT1, or GSTP1 Ala114Val polymorphisms. After combining risk genotypes for all four polymorphisms, rates of SPM development with 0-1, 2, 3, and 4 risk genotypes were 6.4%, 8.4%, 10.9%, and 15.1%, respectively, and a step-wise increase in SPM risk was observed with increasing number of risk genotypes (P = 0.004 for trend). Patients with 3-4 risk genotypes had a 1.7-fold increased risk for SPM compared to patients with 0-2 risk genotypes (HR, 1.70; 95% CI,1.2-2.5).

Conclusions

This large prospective cohort study supports a modestly increased risk of SPM after index SCCHN with GSTP1 Ile105Val polymorphism, and an even greater risk of SPM with multiple combined GST risk genotypes.

Background

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter region of the FAS and FASLG may alter the transcriptional activity of these genes. We, therefore, investigated the association between the FAS and FASLG polymorphisms and risk of second primary tumor (SPM) after index squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Methods

We used Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard models to assess the association of the four SNPs (FAS -1377G>A, FAS -670A>G, FASLG -844C>T and FASLG -124 A>G) with the SPM-free survival and SPM risk among 1,286 incident SCCHN patients.

Results

Compared to patients having the FAS -670 AA or the FASLG -844CC genotypes, the patients having variant genotypes of FAS -670 AG/GG or FASLG -844 CT/TT genotypes had a significantly increased risk of SPM, respectively. A trend for significantly increased SPM risk with increasing number of risk genotypes of the four polymorphisms was observed in a dose-response manner. Moreover, the patients with three or four combined risk genotypes had an appropriately 1.8- or 2.5-fold increased risk for developing SPM compared with patients with zero or one risk genotypes, respectively.

Conclusions

Our results suggest a modestly increased risk of SPM after index SCCHN with FAS -670 A>G and FASLG -844 C>T polymorphisms and an even greater risk of SPM with multiple combined FAS and FASLG risk genotypes.

Impact

The FAS and FASLG polymorphisms may serve as a susceptible marker for SCCHN patients at high SPM risk.

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and its major binding protein IGFBP-3 have been implicated in breast carcinogenesis. We examined the associations between genetic variants and circulating levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 with proliferative benign breast disease (BBD), a marker of increased breast cancer risk, in the Nurses’ Health Study II (NHSII). Participants were 359 pathology-confirmed proliferative BBD cases and 359 matched controls. Circulating IGF-I and IGFBP-3 levels were measured in blood samples collected between 1996 and 1999. Thirty single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in IGF-I, IGFBP-1, and IGFBP-3 genes were selected using a haplotype tagging approach and genotyped in cases and controls. Circulating IGF-I levels were not associated with proliferative BBD risk. Higher circulating IGFBP-3 levels were significantly associated with increased risk of proliferative BBD (highest vs. lowest quartile odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)), 1.70 (1.06–2.72); p-trend = 0.03). The minor alleles of two IGFBP-3 SNPs were associated with lower proliferative BBD risk (homozygous variant vs. homozygous wild-type OR (95% CI): rs3110697: 0.6 (0.4–0.9), p-trend = 0.02; rs2132570: 0.2 (0.1–0.6), p-trend = 0.02). Three other IGFBP-3 SNPs (rs2854744, rs2960436, and rs2854746) were significantly associated with circulating IGFBP-3 levels (p < 0.01). Although these SNPs were not significantly associated with proliferative BBD risk, there was suggestive evidence that the alleles associated with higher circulating IGFBP-3 levels were also associated with higher risk of proliferative BBD. These results suggest that genetic variants and circulating levels of IGFBP-3 may play a role in the early stage of breast carcinogenesis.

Purpose

Mouse double minute 4 (MDM4), a homolog of MDM2, is a key negative regulator of p53, and its amplification or over-expression contributes to carcinogenesis by inhibiting the p53 tumor suppressor activity. We investigated the association between MDM4 polymorphisms and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Methods

We genotyped three MDM4 tagging polymorphisms, two in the 3′ untranslated region (3′ UTR: rs11801299G>A and rs10900598G>T) and one in intron 1 (rs1380576C>G), in a case-control study of 1,075 non-Hispanic white SCCHN patients and 1,084 cancer-free controls and evaluated their associations with SCCHN risk.

Results

Although none of these three polymorphisms individually had a statistically significant effect on risk of SCCHN, nor did their combined number of putative risk genotypes (i.e., rs11801299GG, rs1380576CG+GG, and rs10900598GG) (OR = 1.16 and 95% CI=0.93–1.45), we found that individuals with 1–3 risk genotypes had statistically significantly increased risk of oropharyngeal cancer (OR = 1.32 and 95% CI = 1.00–1.73), particularly for those with T1–2 stage (OR = 1.40; 95% CI = 1.02–1.94), those with regional lymph node metastases (N1–3) (OR = 1.44; 95% CI = 1.07–1.95), and those with late stages (III and IV) (OR = 1.34; 95% CI = 1.01–1.77).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the joint effect of MDM4 variants may contribute to the risk of oropharyngeal cancer in non-Hispanic whites. Additional studies are warranted to unravel whether the particular stage distribution of oropharyngeal cancer with the strongest association (T1–2, N1–3, and III–IV) is a possible link with human papillomavirus-related oropharyngeal cancers.

Head and neck cancer represents 3.3% of all new malignancies and 2.0% of cancer deaths in the USA, the majority of which are squamous in origin. The overall 5 year survival is 60% and worsens with increasing stage at diagnosis. Thus, novel biomarkers for early detection of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) are needed. MicroRNA-137 (miR-137) plays a role in cell cycle control and seems to undergo promoter methylation in oral squamous cell carcinoma tissue. The main objectives of this study were to ascertain whether miR-137 promoter methylation is detectable in oral rinse samples, assess its association with SCCHN and identify potential risk factors for its occurrence. Oral rinse samples were collected from 99 SCCHN patients with no prior history of cancer and 99 cancer-free controls, frequency matched on gender; tumor tissue for 64 patients was also tested. Methylation of the miR-137 promoter, assessed using methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction, was detected in 21.2% oral rinses from SCCHN patients and 3.0% from controls [odds ratio (OR) = 4.80, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.23–18.82]. Among cases, promoter methylation of miR-137 was associated with female gender (OR = 5.30, 95% CI: 1.20–23.44) and inversely associated with body mass index (BMI) (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.77–0.99). Promoter methylation of miR-137 appears to be a relatively frequently detected event in oral rinse of SCCHN patients and may have future utility as a biomarker in DNA methylation panels. The observed associations with gender and BMI help to shed light on potential risk factors for an altered methylation state in SCCHN.

Background

Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in alcohol metabolism genes are associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN), and may influence cancer risk in conjunction with alcohol. Genetic variation in the oxidative stress pathway may impact the carcinogenic effect of reactive oxygen species produced by ethanol metabolism. We hypothesized that alcohol interacts with these pathways to affect SCCHN incidence.

Methods

Interview and genotyping data for 64 SNPs were obtained from 2552 European- and African-American subjects (1227 cases, 1325 controls) from the Carolina Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology study, a population-based case-control study of SCCHN conducted in North Carolina from 2002–2006. We estimated odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for SNPs and haplotypes, adjusting for age, sex, race, and duration of cigarette smoking. P-values were adjusted for multiple testing using Bonferroni correction.

Results

Two SNPs were associated with SCCHN risk: ADH1B rs1229984 A allele (OR=0.7, 95%CI=0.6–0.9) and ALDH2 rs2238151 C allele (OR=1.2, 95%CI=1.1–1.4). Three were associated with sub-site tumors: ADH1B rs17028834 C allele (larynx, OR=1.5, 95%CI=1.1–2.0), SOD2 rs4342445 A allele (oral cavity, OR=1.3, 95%CI=1.1–1.6), and SOD2 rs5746134 T allele (hypopharynx, OR=2.1, 95%CI=1.2–3.7). Four SNPs in alcohol metabolism genes interacted additively with alcohol consumption: ALDH2 rs2238151, ADH1B rs1159918, ADH7 rs1154460, and CYP2E1 rs2249695. No alcohol interactions were found for oxidative stress SNPs.

Conclusions and Impact

Previously unreported associations of SNPs in ALDH2, CYP2E1, GPX2, SOD1, and SOD2 with SCCHN and sub-site tumors provide evidence that alterations in alcohol and oxidative stress pathways influence SCCHN carcinogenesis, and warrant further investigation.

Purpose

Caspase-3 plays a central role in executing cell apoptosis and thus in carcinogenesis, but little is known about the role of CASP3 variants in susceptibility to squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

Experimental Design

Genotype and haplotypes of the first intron (rs4647601:G>T and rs4647602:C>A) and 5′-UTR (rs4647603:G>A) regions of CASP3 (NT_022792.17) were determined for 930 SCCHN patients and 993 cancer-free controls in a US non-Hispanic white population. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated in multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

We found that the CASP3 rs4647601:TT variant genotype was associated with an increased risk of SCCHN (adjusted OR = 1.32, 95% CI = 1.00–1.73) compared with the GG genotype. This risk was more evident in the subgroups of younger (≤56 years) subjects, males, and never smokers with a significant trend for increased risk with increased number of variant T allele (P < 0.05 for all). However, these risks were not found for other two SNPs. Furthermore, individuals with two copies of haplotypes TCG or GCA were found to have a significant increased risk of SCCHN (OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.07–1.61), compared with the others haplotypes, and this risk was more evident in less advanced diseases (OR = 1.45, 95% CI = 1.11–1.89) than in the advanced diseases (OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 0.96–1.54).

Conclusions

These results suggested that genetic variation in CASP3 may contribute to SCCHN risk. Larger studies are needed to confirm our findings.

Clinical Relevance

The establishment of genetic variation in CASP3 as a risk factor for SCCHN risk is an etiologically important step in predicting risk in the general population for further identification of individuals at risk for primary prevention. Indeed, this study found one of the three CASP3 SNPs to be associated with risk of SCCHN, particularly in younger, male, and never smokers with less advanced SCCHN, suggesting this SNP was a marker for susceptibility to but not disease progression of SCCHN.

BACKGROUND

p53 plays a critical role in cellular anti-cancer mechanisms, and has been correlated with second primary malignancy (SPM) development. A common polymorphism in codon 72 of the p53 results in an amino acid substitution and could influence p53 function. We hypothesized that p53 codon 72 polymorphism may be associated with risk of SPMs and SPM-free survival among patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN).

METHODS

A total of 1,271 patients, who were diagnosed with incident SCCHN between May 1995 and January 2007, were genotyped and followed for SPM development. Log-rank test and Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare SPM-free survival and SPM risk between the different genotype groups.

RESULTS

We found a significantly reduced SPM-free survival for patients with variant Pro72 allele compared with patients with Arg 72 homozygous genotype (Log-rank test, p = 0.005). Compared to SCCHN patients with the p53 72Arg/Arg genotype, there was a significantly greater risk of SPM associated with the p53 72Arg/Pro genotype (HR, 1.75, 95% CI, 1.17–2.61) and the combined p53 72Arg/Pro + Pro/Pro (HR, 1.58, 95%CI, 1.07–2.34). Furthermore, stratification analyses showed that the risk of SPM associated with p53 variant genotypes (Arg/Pro + Pro/Pro) was more pronounced in several subgroups.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that p53 codon 72 polymorphism could be a risk marker for genetic susceptibility to SPM of patients with primary SCCHN.

The insulin-like growth factor binding protein IGFBP-3 is a pro-apoptotic and anti-angiogenic protein in prostate cancer (CaP). Epidemiological studies suggest that low IGFBP-3 is associated with greater risk of aggressive, metastatic prostate cancers, but in vivo functional data are lacking. Here we show that mice that are genetically deficient in IGFBP-3 exhibit weaker growth of primary prostate tumors growth but higher incidence of metastatic disease. Prostates in IGFBP-3 knockout mice (IGFBP-3KO mice) failed to undergo apoptosis after castration. Spontaneous prostate tumors did not develop in IGFBP-3KO mice, but splenic lymphomas occured in 23% of female IGFBP-3KO mice by 80 weeks of age. To assess the effects of IGFBP-3 deficiency on prostate cancer development, we crossed IGFBP-3KO mice with a c-Myc-driven model of CaP that develops slow-growing, non-metastatic tumors. By 24 weeks of age, well-differentiated prostate cancers were observed in all mice regardless of IGFBP-3 status. However, by 80 weeks of age IGFBP-3KO mice tended to exhibit larger prostate tumors than control mice. More strikingly, lung metastases were observed at this time in 55% of the IGFBP-3KO mice but none of the control animals. Cell lines established from Myc:IGFBP-3KO tumors displayed more aggressive phenotypes in proliferation, invasion and colony formation assays, relative to control Myc tumor cell lines. In addition, Myc:IGFBP-3KO cells exhibited evidence of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Our findings establish a function for IGFBP-3 in suppressing metastasis in prostate cancer, and they also offer the first reported transgenic model of spontaneous metastatic prostate cancer for studies of this advanced stage of disease.

Caspase 8 is an apoptosis-related cysteine peptidase involved in the death receptor pathway and likely in the mitochondrial pathway. A CASP8 promoter-region 6-nucleotide deletion/insertion (-652 6N ins/del) and a coding region D302H polymorphism are reportedly important in cancer development, but no reported study has assessed the associations of these variations with risk of head and neck cancer. In a hospital-based study of non-Hispanic whites, we genotyped CASP8 -652 6N del and 302H variants in 1,023 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) and 1,052 cancer-free controls. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression models. The CASP8 -652 6N del variant genotypes or haplotypes were inversely associated with SCCHN risk (adjusted OR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.57–0.85 for the ins/del+del/del genotypes compared with ins/ins genotype; adjusted OR = 0.73, 95% CI = 0.55–0.97 for the del-D haplotype compared with the ins-D haplotype). Furthermore, the number of the CASP8 -652 6N del (but not 302H) variant allele tended to correlate with increased levels of camptothecin-induced p53-mediated apoptosis in T lymphocytes from 170 cancer-free controls. We concluded that the CASP8 -652 6N del variant allele may contribute to the risk of developing SCCHN in non-Hispanic white populations. Further validation by population-based case-control studies and rigorous mechanistic studies is warranted.