title: Association of p73 G4C14-to-A4T14 polymorphism with human papillomavirus type 16 status in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck in non-Hispanic whites.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The tumor protein p73 interacts with the human papillomavirus type 16 (HPV-16) oncoproteins E6 and E7, and p73 variation may modify the interaction between p73 protein and HPV-16 oncogenic proteins and contribute to cellular malignant transformation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-case comparison study, the authors analyzed HPV-16 status in tumor specimens and genotyped the p73 G4C14-to-A4T14 polymorphism using genomic DNA from blood of 202 non-Hispanic white patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated in univariate and multivariable logistic regression models to examine the association between the p73 polymorphism and HPV-16 status in SCCHN.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with the p73 GC/GC genotype, the AT/AT and combined GC/AT + AT/AT variant genotypes were associated significantly with HPV-16-positive tumor status among patients with SCCHN (adjusted OR, 5.32; 95% CI, 1.32-21.4; adjusted OR, 1.91; 95% CI, 1.03-3.53, respectively). There was a significant dose-effect relation between the AT allele and HPV-16-positive tumor status in patients with SCCHN (trend test: P = .014). Moreover, the stratified analyses indicated that the association between HPV-16-positive tumor status and the combined p73 GC/AT + AT/AT genotypes was more pronounced among several subgroups of patients who were older, men, ever drinkers, and those with oropharyngeal cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The p73 polymorphism was associated with HPV-16 status in SCCHN and may serve as a marker of positive HPV-16 tumor status in patients with SCCHN, particularly those with oropharyngeal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Xuemei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Erich M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Sturgis
authors.forename: Chong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Etzel
authors.forename: Qingyi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Guojun
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000821:virology*; D052162:Human papillomavirus 16 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000235:genetics; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D044465:White People