CYP17 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene polymorphisms are associated with risk of oral cancer in Chinese patients in Taiwan.
CONCLUSIONS
Patients who carry the T/T homozygote of CYP17 C/T gene polymorphism may have a higher risk of developing oral cancer.


OBJECTIVE
Cancer of the oral cavity is the most commonly seen malignancy in Taiwan, and its rising incidence poses a formidable challenge to oncologists. The CYP17 gene encodes P450c17alpha, an enzyme involved in the metabolism of steroid hormones. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is one of the cytokines produced by macrophages, and its function has been postulated to play a role in cancer formation. We investigated whether polymorphisms of CYP17 and TNF-alpha genes are associated with oral cancer.


METHODS
Polymorphisms of CYP17 and TNF-alpha genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction-based restriction analysis in 137 patients with oral cancer and 102 normal controls.


RESULTS
The results for the CYP17 gene revealed a significant difference between oral cancer patients and normal controls (p =0.0063), but there was no significant difference for the TNF-alpha gene (p =0.4753).
Chen
Wei-Cheng
WC
Department of Medical Genetics, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Tsai
Ming-Hsui
MH
Wan
Lei
L
Chen
Wen-Chi
WC
Tsai
Chang-Hai
CH
Tsai
Fuu-Jen
FJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase / Q000235:genetics*; D013624:Taiwan; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*
D017931:DNA Primers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D013254:Steroid 17-alpha-Hydroxylase