ADH7 Polymorphism and Alcohol Consumption on Risk of Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma in The Korean Population

Purpose The development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is closely associated with alcohol consumption. Also, it is related to individual genetic susceptibility, such as single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH). This study aimed to investigate the association of ADH7 SNPs with the risk of HNSCC. Methods and Patients: We analyzed ADH7 rs1573496C > G, rs3737482T > C, rs1154460G > A, and rs284787T > C SNPs in 250 patients with HNSCC and 322 controls in the Korean populations. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and genotyping was done using the TaqMan assay. Linkage disequilibrium (LD) and haplotypes were analyzed. Results The odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of the CT and CC genotypes of ADH7 rs3737482T > C were 0.48 (0.29–0.78) and 0.69 (0.49–0.96), indicating a significantly decreased risk. In SNP of rs1154460G > A, the OR and 95% CI of the AA genotype was 1.63 (1.11–2.40), showing a significant increase in the risk. Furthermore, SNPs of ADH7 rs3737482T > C and ADH7 rs1154460G > A exhibit synergistic interactions with alcohol composition on the risk of HNSCC. None of the haplotypes were associated with the risk of HNSCC. Conclusions ADH7 rs3737482T > C and rs1154460G > A SNPs are associated with the risk of development of HNSCC in Koreans. It could serve as a molecular biological marker to screen the high-risk groups for HNSCC.