Polymorphisms of the DNA repair genes XRCC1 and ERCC4 are not associated with smoking- and drinking-dependent larynx cancer in a Polish population.

Background: Tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking generate oxidative DNA damage and may contribute to larynx carcinogenesis. The X-ray repair cross complementing 1 (XRCC1) and excision repair cross-complementing rodent repair deficiency, complementation group 4 (ERCC4(XPF)) genes are important components of DNA excision repair systems, which repair DNA damage induced by various factors, including tobacco smoking and alcohol.
Aim: To investigate the association between the genotypes of the XRCC1-Arg399Gln (rs25487) and ERCC4-Arg415Gln (rs1800067) polymorphisms and smoking- and drinking-related larynx cancer in a Polish population.
Methods: The polymorphisms were determined by PCR-RFLP method in 253 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx and 253 sex- and age-matched controls.
Results: We did not find any association between the investigated polymorphisms and larynx carcinoma, dependent on either smoking or drinking status. No association was found between these polymorphisms and larynx cancer grade, stage or age at diagnosis.
Conclusions: The results indicated that Arg399Gln polymorphism of XRCC1 gene and Arg415Gln polymorphism of ERCC4 gene may not be associated with smoking- and drinking-related larynx cancer in Polish population.