Effects of E-cadherin (CDH1) gene promoter polymorphisms on the risk and clinicopathologic development of oral cancer

Background This study investigates the association between polymorphism in the E-cadherin/CDH1 promoter region and the risk and progression of oral cancer. Methods Genetic polymorphisms of CDH1-160 and -347 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in 347 noncancer controls and in 251 patients with oral cancer. Results The statistical analysis showed that subjects with at least 1 varied GA allele of CDH1-347 polymorphic genotypes or combinations of the CDH1-160 CA/-347 GGA, CDH1-160 CC/-347 GGA, or CDH1-160 CC/-347 GAGA genotypes had a significantly higher risk, whereas subjects with CDH1-160 C/A or A/A had a significantly lower risk of developing oral cancer than those with wild-type genotypes. Furthermore, elderly patients with the CDH1-347 G/GA or GA/GA genotype were associated with a higher incidence in lymph node metastasis than were those with the G/G genotype. Conclusions These results suggest that CDH1-347 polymorphisms are associated with increased risks of oral cancer, and may be a predictive factor for tumor lymph node metastasis.