Studying association of GTF2H4, SULF1, OAS3, and IFNG genes polymorphism and risk of head and neck cancer in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

Genetic variations develop inherited tendency to progress cancer. The incidence rate of head and neck cancer (HNC) is 15-40% of all cancer types worldwide but this ratio is worse in South Asian region of Pakistan. We collected 185 samples and observed variations in IFNG, GTF2H4, OAS3 and SULF1 genes of HNC samples associated with tobacco, betel leaf and nuts, naswar and gutka. We performed the tetra-arm PCR and found significant allelic associations of IFNG rs11177074 (P = 0.001135), GTF2H4 rs2894054 (P = 0.0001), OAS3 rs12302655 (P = 0.000001) and SULF1 rs4737999 (P = 0.00001) with HNC. The cancer and control samples were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and the pooled odds ratios was 95% of confidence. Tobacco and naswar was progressive factor of HNC compare to betel leaves and nuts. The irrational habits of population of the Southern Punjab is bringing a substantial change in SNPs and therefore these variants could be used as genetic biomarkers to diagnose HNC.