Role of OGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism and 8-oxoguanine DNA damage in risk assessment of squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck in north Indian population

► The variants of OGG1 Ser/Cys exhibits a ∼1.7 fold and Cys/Cys a ∼2.5 fold increased risk in SCCHN. ► Smoking, tobacco chewing and alcohol, raise the risk of SCCHN by ∼2 folds. ► Ser/Cys and Cys/Cys variants of OGG1 accumulate more salivary cell 8-OHdG in SCCHN than controls.