Molecular epidemiology in oral cancer

Abstract

To evaluate the association between polymorphisms of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes and folate-metabolizing enzymes and the risk of oral cancer, we conducted a case-control study with 119 oral squamous cell carcinoma cases newly and histologically diagnosed and 357 age- and sex-matched non-cancer controls. Alcohol drinking showed a higher increased risk of oral cancer among population with the less active alcohol the dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) or aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), compared with the subjects with active enzymes. In combination analysis of ADH1B and ALDH2 polymorphisms, we observed a synergistic increased risk in the heavy drinkers with less active ADH1B and ALDH2. Dietary folate intake was inversely associated with oral cancer risk. We found a non-significant decreased risk in MTHFR 677 TT genotypes. Examining the polymorphisms can allow us to identify the high-risk group in oral cancer susceptibility, thus such studies will produce useful information for oral cancer prevention. © 2007, Japan Society for Head and Neck Cancer. All rights reserved.