Association of-308 TNF-α promoter polymorphism with clinical aggressiveness in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Genetic polymorphisms in the promoter region of the tumour necrosis factor-alpha(TNF-alpha) gene are involved in the regulation of the expression levels of its cytokine. Besides, these polymorphisms have been associated with the clinical behaviour of cancer. We investigated the -308 promoter region polymorphisms of the TNF-alpha gene and its association with the clinicopathological factors of a head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) sample. Furthermore, we analysed the impact of all the variables on the overall survival of patients. A sample of HNSCC (n = 89) was evaluated. Clinicopathological factors and overall survival data were gathered. The TNF-alpha gene was analysed by using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Data analyses were performed by using bivariate and multivariate statistical tests. Significance was set at p < 0.05. HNSCC subjects carrying the A allele (GA/AA) exhibited associations with poor performance status (OR = 2.82, p = 0.039), lesions located on posterior areas (OR = 4.02, p = 0.002), and large-size tumours (OR = 2.91, p = 0.015). Subjects carrying only AA genotype exhibited association with poor performance status (OR = 6.667, p = 0.007). A worse overall survival was noted in subjects with large tumours (OR = 4.87, p = 0.005) and locoregional metastatic disease (OR = 2.50, p = 0.018). Our data suggests that the presence of theAallele/AA haplotype in HNSCC individuals might contribute to the higher clinical aggressiveness of malignant disease. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.