The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of genetic polymorphisms of the matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) gene on the susceptibility of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
METHODS:
Four single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the MMP-11 gene from 595 patients with oral cancer and 561 noncancer controls were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
RESULTS:
MMP-11 gene polymorphisms exhibit synergistic effects of environmental factors (betel nut chewing and tobacco use) on the susceptibility of OSCC. Furthermore, among patients with OSCC with betel nut consumption, those who have at least one polymorphic C allele of MMP-11 rs738792 have an increased incidence of lymph node metastasis when compared with those patients homozygous for T/T.
CONCLUSION:
Our results showed that the combined effects of the MMP-11 gene polymorphisms and environmental carcinogens are related to an increased risk for the development of OSCC and may be a predictive factor for tumor lymph node metastasis in Taiwanese with OSCC.
