title: Linkage of TP53 codon 72 pro/pro genotype as predictive factor for nasopharyngeal carcinoma development.
abstract: Genetic predisposition has been suggested as a cofactor for cancer aetiology and a polymorphism in TP53 codon 72 has been associated as a susceptibility factor for several cancers. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a rare neoplasia in western civilizations and genetic predisposition might play an important role in its development. We evaluated the linkage of the polymorphic variants (Arg/Pro) on TP53 codon 72 with nasopharyngeal cancer development in a case-control study with 392 individuals from a northern Portuguese population, including 107 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and 285 healthy controls. This study revealed a three-fold risk for carriers of Pro/Pro genotype either against carriers of Arg/Arg (OR=2.62; 95% CI=1.10-6.30; P=0.016) or total Arg carriers (OR=2.67; 95% CI=1.21-5.90; P=0.012). Moreover, step-wise logistic regression analysis identified Pro/Pro genotype (OR=3.1; 95% CI=1.3-7.3; P=0.009), age >49 at diagnosis (OR=2.5; 95% CI=1.6-4.0; P<0.001) and male gender (OR=2.7; 95% CI=1.6-4.4; P<0.001) as predictive factors for the development of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. These results confirm the data from Asiatic populations suggesting that Pro/Pro genotype represents a stable risk factor for nasopharyngeal carcinoma development in Portugal and that TP53 codon 72 polymorphism can contribute as a genetic susceptibility marker, providing additional information to improve the knowledge about nasopharyngeal carcinoma aetiology.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Oncology Unit, Portuguese Institute of Oncology - Oporto, Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sousa
authors.forename: Alexandra M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Catarino
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Vasconcelos
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Breda
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Medeiros
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003062:Codon; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D011379:Prognosis; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D003062:Codon; D016159:Tumor Suppressor Protein p53