Interaction of DNA Repair Gene XPC With Smoking and Betel Quid Chewing Behaviors of Oral Cancer

Abstract

Background/aim: Xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C (XPC) is reported to play important roles in DNA integrity and genomic instability, however, the contribution of XPC to oral carcinogenesis is largely uncertain. Therefore, we aimed at examining the contribution of XPC genotypes to oral cancer.

Materials and methods: The genotypes of XPC rs2228001 and rs2228000 were examined among 958 oral cancer patients and 958 control subjects by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology and corresponding DNA repair capacity was checked.

Results: First, the percentages of XPC rs2228001 AC and CC were higher among oral cancer patients than controls. Second, no significant association was observed regarding XPC rs2228000. Third, there was a synergistic influence of smoking and betel quid chewing behaviors and XPC rs2228001 genotype on oral cancer risk. Last, functional experiments showed DNA repair capacity was lower for AC/CC carriers than AA carriers.

Conclusion: XPC rs2228001 C allele, which was associated with decreased DNA repair capacity, may interact with smoking and betel quid chewing behaviors on oral cancer risk.

Keywords: Betel quid chewing; Taiwan; XPC; genotype; oral cancer; polymorphism; smoking.