Functional variants of COX-2 and risk of tobacco-related oral squamous cell carcinoma in high-risk Asian Indians

SummaryWe assessed the association of COX-2 polymorphisms at promoter sites −1195, −765 and at 3′UTR (8473) in 193 patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and 137 normal subjects by PCR–RFLP. Although no significant difference was observed in the frequency of COX-2 −1195G>A, −765G>C and 8473C>T single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between patients and controls, COX-2 −1195G/A genotype showed higher while −765G/C and 8473C/T showed lower prevalence in patients as compared to normal subjects. Logistic regression analysis of these three polymorphisms revealed a quantitative risk associated with −1195G>A SNP (OR 3.07 at 95%CI) while −765G>C and 8473C>T appeared to be protective. Results of the present study indicate that these three functional variants in the COX-2 regulatory region may contribute to risk modification of tobacco-related oral squamous cell carcinoma in Asian Indians.