title: Haptoglobin genotypes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Haptoglobin polymorphisms are associated with different cancers; however, the occurrence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in relation to haptoglobin polymorphisms has not been reported. In this study, the distribution of haptoglobin genotypes among patients with NPC was investigated and the prognostic significance of haptoglobin genotypes was further analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  Haptoglobin genotypes were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction and electrophoresis. The genotypes were determined in the sera of 49 NPC patients and in 134 controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The haptoglobin genotypes of patients with NPC were as follows: Hp 1-1, 2%; Hp 2-1, 39%; Hp 2-2, 59%. The frequency of the Hp 2-2 genotype was much higher in NPC patients than in control individuals (p=0.044). Furthermore, NPC patients with the Hp 2-2 genotype had advanced T stages (p=0.001) and larger primary tumor volumes (p=0.035) than those with Hp 2-1 or 1-1.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An increased frequency of the Hp 2-2 genotype was associated with NPC. The Hp 2 allele was also overexpressed in NPC patients. NPC patients with the Hp 2-2 genotype had advanced T stage and a larger primary tumor volume. Hp 2-2 may be a negative prognostic factor in NPC.
authors.affiliation: Community Medicine Research Center and Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei and Department of Otolaryngology, Department of Internal Medicine, Buddhist Dalin Tzu Chi General Hospital, Chiayi, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Ching-Chih
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Hon-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Shih-Kai
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Dian-Kun
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hsu-Chueh
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Moon-Sing
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Ya-Ting
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Pesus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Yu-Chieh
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Su
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001483:Base Sequence; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D005838:Genotype; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017931:DNA Primers; C485359:HP protein, human; D006242:Haptoglobins