The E-cadherin Promoter-160 C/A Polymorphism And Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma In A Chinese Population

Background: The E-cadherin as a pivotal structural protrein is important for cellular polarity and maintainance of normal tissue morphology and cellular differentiation. It has long been known that loss of expression of E-cadherin is responsible for invasion and proliferation in many neoplastic diseases of epidermoid origin including nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). In addition, recently some study investigated the impact of the C/A genetic polymorphism at -160 from the site of the E-cadherin gene promoter on susceptibility in NPC.Objective: To evaluate the association of the E-cadherin gene promoter -160 C/A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk in a Chinese population, we designed a hospital-based case-control study.Methods: Subjects included in this study were 303 patients definitely diagnosed with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), and 318 matched healthy controls. We used TaqMan Probe method for analyzing polymorphism.Results: The A/A genotype was associated with increased risk of NPC after being adjusted for age and gender (adjusted OR=2.09,95CI%=1.03-4.22,P=0.04). When 2 gender groups were analysed respectively, female group with A/A genotype showed a higher risk (OR=7.57,95%IC=1.57-36.47,P =0.012). Besides, among NPC patients compared with males A/A genotype, females with A/A genotype had a significant risk(OR=2.66,95%IC=1.14-6.20,P=0.024).Conclusions: The A/A genotype of E-cadherin promoter -160 C/A might be genetic risk factor for NPC, especially female patients.