Contribution of genetic polymorphisms of stromal cell-derived factor-1 and its receptor, CXCR4, to the susceptibility and clinicopathologic development of oral cancer

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relations of SDF-1 and its receptor, CXCR4, gene variants on oral cancer risk. Methods. PCR-RFLP was used to measure SDF-1-3′A and CXCR4 gene polymorphisms in 284 controls and 113 patients with oral cancer. Results. After being adjusted for age, individuals with A/G heterozygotes of SDF-1 had a higher risk of 1.86-fold to develop oral cancer when compared with those with G/G wild type homozygotes. Furthermore, patients with oral cancer with at least 1 mutant T allele of CXCR4 gene had a risk of 2.66-fold to progress to stage III or IV. Conclusions. SDF-1-3′A gene polymorphism may be considered as a factor of increased susceptibility to oral cancer, and at least 1 mutated T allele of CXCR4 gene is associated with the development of stage III or IV and the induction of lymph-node metastasis of oral cancer disease in Taiwanese.