The Taq 1 polymorphism of Vitamin D receptor gene is associated with oral cancer and preoral cancer in North Indian population.

Background: Oral cancer is known as one of the most common cancers, with a poor prognosis, related to delayed clinical diagnosis, either due to the lack of particular biomarkers related to the disease or costly therapeutic alternatives.

Aims And Objectives: In this study association of single nucleotide polymorphism (Taq1, T>C) in Vitamin D receptor gene with oral cancer and pre oral cancer was studied.

Materials And Methods: Total 230 patients of precancerous oral lesions (Leukoplakia 70, Oral Sub mucous fibrosis 90, Lichen Planus 70), 72 oral cancer patients and 300 healthy control subjects were genotyped by PCR-RFLP methods. Chi-square test was used for calculation of genotype and allele frequencies.

Results: Mutant genotype CC as well as C allele were found to significantly decrease the risk of oral disease (P value=0.04, OR=0.60 and P value=0.02, OR=0.75 respectively). In particular, compared to non smokers, smokers with TC & CC genotypes were at decrease risk of oral diseases (P value=0.0001, OR=0.04). The mutant allele genotype CC as well as the mutant allele C showed protective association with leukoplakia (P value=0.01, OR=0.39 & P value=0.009, OR=0.59 respectively). However, individual with CC genotype had developed high cell differentiated grade at diagnosis (OR= 3.78, P value= 0.008).

Conclusions: This study concludes that VDR (Taq1) polymorphism is associated with oral cancer and pre oral cancer susceptibility in North Indian population.