ECRG1 and FGFR4 single nucleotide polymorphism as predictive factors for nodal metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the pattern of SNPs in ECRG1 and FGFR4 gene of oral squamous cell carcinoma, and to evaluate the association between SNPs and prognostic parameters. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Total 24 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma patients were enrolled in this study. We analyzed the pattern of SNPs in ECRG1 and FGFR4 gene using PCR and direct sequence. Also we evaluated the association between SNPs pattern and clinicopathologic parameters of oral squamous cell carcinoma. RESULTS: The allele type Arg/Arg in ECRG1 gene was found in 13 (54.2%) patients, Arg/Gln in 11 (45.8%) patients and Gln/Gln in no patient. No clinical or pathological factor was associated with the SNP pattern in ECRG1. The allele types of FGFR4 amino acid 388 in 24 OSCC patients were Arg/Arg (8.3%), Arg/Gly (54.2%) and Gly/Gly (37.5%). No clinical or pathological factor was significantly associated with the SNP pattern except the nodal stage. The patients carrying FGFR4 allele Arg/Arg or Arg/Gly at amino acid 388 were associated with advanced N stage (pathologic N2 + N3), compared to Gly/Gly allele carrying group (p = 0.009). CONCLUSION: This study is the first to describe a SNP pattern of both FGFR4 and ECRG1 gene with OSCC in Asian patients. In this study, FGFR4 Arg allele carrier was associated with higher N stage compared with Gly allele. If the important biological role of FGFR4 and ECRG1 in OSCC can be confirmed in further studies, this might be a rational to consider the evaluation of these genes as a therapeutic target in OSCC.