Association of two BRM promoter polymorphisms with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma risk

Jennifer R. Wang, Sarah J.B. Gramling, David P. Goldstein, Dangxiao Cheng, Duoduo Chen, Abul K. Azad, Alvina Tse, Henrique Hon, Zhuo Chen, Maryam Mirshams, Colleen Simpson, Shao Hui Huang, Stephanie Marquez, Brian O'Sullivan, Fei Fei Liu, Heidi Roberts, Wei Xu, Dale H. Brown, Ralph W. Gilbert, Patrick J. GullaneJonathan C. Irish, David N. Reisman, Geoffrey Liu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

27 Scopus citations

Abstract

The SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex is an important regulator of gene expression that has been linked to cancer development. Expression of Brahma (BRM), a critical catalytic subunit of SWI/SNF, is lost in a variety of solid tumors. Two novel BRM promoter polymorphisms (BRM-741 and BRM-1321) have been correlated with BRM loss and elevated cancer risk. The aim(s) of this study were to examine BRM expression in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to correlate BRM polymorphisms with HNSCC risk. BRM expression studies were performed on eight HNSCC cell lines and 76 surgically resected tumor samples. A case-control study was conducted on 668 HNSCC patients (oral cavity, oropharynx, larynx and hypopharynx) and 700 healthy matched controls. BRM expression was lost in 25% of cell lines and 16% of tumors. The homozygous genotype of each polymorphism was significantly associated with increased HNSCC risk [BRM-741: adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.75, 95% CI 1.2-2.3, P < 0.001; BRM-1321: aOR 1.65, 95% CI 1.2-2.2, P < 0.001]. Individuals that were homozygous for both BRM polymorphisms had a more than 2-fold increase in the risk of HNSCC (aOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.5-3.4, P < 0.001). A particularly elevated risk was seen within the oropharynx, human papillomavirus-positive subgroup for carriers of both homozygous variants (aOR 3.09, 95% CI 1.5-6.8, P = 0.004). BRM promoter polymorphisms appear to act as susceptibility markers of HNSCC with potential utility in screening, prevention and treatment.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1012-1017
Number of pages6
JournalCarcinogenesis
Volume34
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2013
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cancer Research

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