Polymorphisms in HIF-1alpha affect presence of lymph node metastasis and can influence tumor size in squamous-cell carcinoma of the glottic larynx.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: HIF-1alpha plays a key role in the development and progression of cancer. Its polymorphic variants C1772T and G1790A have been associated with greater susceptibility to cancer and increased tumor progression. METHODS: We determined the distribution of these polymorphisms among 121 patients with glottic cancer and 154 healthy volunteers by PCR-RFLP. We also analyzed the relationship between the presence of these polymorphisms and various clinicopathologic variables. RESULTS: Advanced tumors (T3-T4) were associated with the TT variant (p = 0.036), which was present in 75 % of T4 tumors (p = 0.008). Among patients with nodal metastasis (N+), 41.7 and 22 % were carrying the TT and GA variants, respectively, compared with 9.4 and 2 % of the patients with no metastasis (N0), (p = 0.006 and p = 0.032). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of the TT and GA variants were associated with lymph node metastasis, while the presence of the TT variant can be associated with larger tumor size.