Background: A case control association study was carried out to investigate polymorphisms in genes CYP1A1 (3801T > C), GSTM1, and GSTT1 (null genotypes) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), including a correlation with some histopathological findings (tumor size, lymph node invasion and degree of tumor differentiation).
Patients and methods: The patients (n = 91) and the controls (n = 81) were matched by age, sex, ethnicity and smoking habits. The molecular analysis was carried out using Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restrict Length Polymorphisms PCR-RFLP (CYP1A1) and Multiplex-PCR (GSTM1/GSTT1).
Results: No association was found for any of the studied genes: CYP1A1 (odds ratio (OR) = 1.24; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) = 0.67-2.31), GSTM1 (OR = 0.61; CI 95% = 0.33-1.11), and GSTT1 (OR = 1.24; CI 95% = 0.65-2.38). The analysis of combining genotypes also showed lack of association. Comparison with the histopathological findings did not, in general, detect any statistically significant differences.
Conclusion: CYP1A1, GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms do not appear to influence the genetic susceptibility to OSCC or the progression to more advanced stages.