Genetic polymorphism of HIF-1α G1790A associated with radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Objective: To explore the association between the genetic polymorphism of hypoxia inducible factor 1 α (HIF-1α) G1790A and the radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: A total of 189 patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with radical radiotherapy were followed-up for 3 years. The patients were divided into cured group with 135 cases and recurrence group with 54 cases by clinical follow-up results. PCR-RFLP was used to determine the mononucleotide genotypes of HIF-1α G1790A. Results: The observed genotype frequencies of HIF-1α gene 1790 (G→A) for GG, GA and AA were 70.04% , 20.74%, 2.22% in cured group and 59.26%, 38.89%, 1.85% in recurrence group, respectively. The allele frequencies for G and A were 87.4%, 13.9% in cured groups and 78.7%, 21.3% in recurrence group, respectively, without significant difference in distribution of allele frequencies between the two groups (χ²=6.919, P=0.077). Conclusions: The genetic polymorphisms of HIF-1α G1790A might be related with the radiosensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. (authors)