Polymorphism of TNFRSF1 A may act as a predictor of severe radiation-induced oral mucositis and a prognosis factor in patients with head and neck cancer

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) (-135 T>C) of TNFRSF1 A and the frequency of occurrence and severity of oral mucositis (OM) in patients with head and neck cancer (HNC) treated with radiotherapy (RT). This retrospective, cohort study included 60 patients with HNC treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT). TNFRSF1 A SNP analysis (-135 T>C) was performed by using molecular probes (TaqMan, ThermoFisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) in DNA isolated from peripheral blood (QIAamp DNA MiniKit; Qiagen, Germantown, MD). CC genotype was related to 4.5-fold higher risk of grade 2 OM after the second week of RT. Similarly, CC carriers had a significantly higher risk of severe (grade 3) OM after the fourth (6-fold) and fifth (7.5-fold) weeks of RT. The CC genotype of the TNFRSF1 A gene was significantly correlated with a higher risk of shorter overall survival (OS) (> 37 months follow-up period; hazard ratio [HR]=2.78). SNP (-135 T>C) of the TNFRSF1 A gene may act as a predictor of OM occurrence in patients with HNC treated with IMRT. The studied SNP may also serve as a prognostic factor in such cases.