Alcohol-metabolizing Enzymes' Gene Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Multiple Head and Neck Cancers

• Published in: Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.) Pa.), 2019-04, Vol.12 (4), p.247-254
• Main Authors: Chien, Huei-Tzu, Young, Chi-Kuang, Chen, Tzu-Ping, Liao, Chun-Ta, Wang, Hung-Ming, Cheng, Sou-De, Huang, Shiang-Fu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1940-6207; 1940-6215
• DOI: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-18-0449

Multiple primary tumors (MPT), especially in the hypopharynx and esophagus, are challenging in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC). Alcohol and alcohol-metabolizing genes were reported to be related to upper digestive tract cancers. Here, we investigated whether the genotypes of alcohol-metabolizing enzymes (ADH1B, ADH1C, and ALDH2) affected patients' susceptibility to developing MPTs. We recruited 659 male patients with HNC between March 1996 and February 2017. Age- and gender-matched controls were also recruited. A total of 164 patients with HNC were identified to have second or third malignancies. The single-nucleotide polymorphisms in (rs1229984), (rs698), and (rs671) were analyzed by TaqMan assays. The prevalence of allele carriers is significantly higher than that of homozygotes for oral cavity ( = 0.013) and oropharyngeal cancers ( = 0.012). For , the number of allele carriers is significantly higher than that of homozygotes for oropharyngeal ( = 0.017) and hypopharyngeal cancers ( < 0.001). (rs698) SNPs are not significantly associated with tumor subsites (all > 0.05). Polymorphisms in ( allele carriers) and ( allele carriers) significantly increase the risk of developing MPTs in the upper digestive tract [ < 0.001, OR (95% confidence interval (CI): 5.186 (2.444-11.004) and < 0.05, OR (95% CI): 2.093 (1.149-3.812), respectively]. (rs671) and (rs1229984) allele carriers were shown to develop MPTs in the upper digestive tract. Genetic information may be used to identify high-risk patients for the development of MPTs.