Can the genetic polymorphisms contribute in the prevention and treatment of head and neck cancer?

• Grant number: 14/16092-4
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Duration: February 01, 2015 - January 31, 2017
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal Investigator: Gilka Jorge Figaro Gattas
• Grantee: Gilka Jorge Figaro Gattas
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated researchers: Acklei Viana ; Fernanda de Toledo Gonçalves ; Marcos Brasilino de Carvalho ; Otávio Alberto Curioni ; Thiago Branco Sonego

Abstract

Head and neck cancer (HNC), which includes cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx and larynx, is the sixth most common type of tumor and comprises about 6% of all cancers. More than 500,000 new cases and 300,000 deaths from HNC are expected per year all over the world. In Brazil, about 14,000 new cases are estimated for 2014, considering only tumors of the oral cavity. The risks of HNC are associated with genetic, environmental and individual factors that may vary among different populations. Chronic and excessive alcohol and tobacco use appears to contribute significantly for the cancer risk, disease progression and survival of patients with cancer. The main genes associated with the alcohol and tobacco metabolism have been studied but the contribution of gene polymorphisms on the outcome of patients after cancer treatment is not well understudied. The aim of this research is to evaluate the contribution of genetic polymorphisms on the outcome of patients with HNC treated and followed in the Department of Head and Neck Surgery and Otorhinolaryngology, Hospital Heliopolis, since the year of 2000. It will be investigated polymorphisms in genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism (GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, CYP1A1), alcohol metabolizing genes (ADH, CYP2E1), DNA repair genes (XRCC1, XRCC3, XPD) and genes associated with alcohol and tobacco dependence (OPRM1, DRD2, SLC6A4, CHRNA5, CHRNA3). The same polymorphisms will be studied in a control group of patients from different clinics of the same hospital to infer gene frequency and HNC risk. The new proposal is an extension of projects being carried out in partnership since 2000 and for this reason the DNA necessary for molecular analysis is already stored at the laboratory. The importance of this study is to evaluate genetic factors and consumer habits associated with development, clinical outcome and survival of Brazilian patients with head and neck cancer after diagnosis and treatment. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FIRIGATO, ISABELA; GONCALVES, FERNANDA DE TOLEDO; DE ANTONIO, JULIANA; CURIONI, OTAVIO ALBERTO; SILVA, MARIANA ROCHA; FIGARO GATTAS, GILKA JORGE. How many copies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 are associated with head and neck cancer risk?. BIOMARKERS, v. 24, n. 3, p. 262-267, APR 3 2019. (14/16092-4)