OBJECTIVETo evaluate the relationship between osteopontin gene genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Guangxi Zhuang people.

METHODSWith a hospital based case-control study, osteopontin gene polymorphisms were compared between patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma and healthy outpatients as a controls in Zhuang population in Guangxi. The single nucleotide polymorphisms at rs1126772 and rs9138 sites of the osteopontin gene were determined by polymerase chain reaction-single base extension technique (PCR-SBE) and DNA sequencing technology. The comparison between genotype and allele frequency distribution differences in case and control group was accomplished by a χ(2) test. The frequencies of haplotypes in osteopontin gene in different groups were analyzed.

RESULTSThere were no differences between the patients and controls in the genotype or allele frequencies of osteopontin gene rs1126772 site (

GA/GGOR = 0.94, 95%CI 0.37-2.37, χ(2) = 0.182, P = 0.891; AA/GG:OR = 0.86, 95%CI 0.35-2.12, χ(2) = 0.834, P = 0.773) or rs9138 site (

CA/CCOR = 1.42, 95%CI 0.88-2.29, χ(2) = 2.023, P = 0.155; AA/CC:OR = 1.77, 95%CI 0.78-4.01, χ(2) = 1.901, P = 0.168). The frequency of GA haplotype in the patients was significantly higher than that in the controls (P = 0.003), and the GA haplotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (OR = 4.84, 95%CI 1.59-14.71).

CONCLUSIONThe haplotype GA of osteopontin gene rs1126772 and rs9138 sites increases the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Guangxi Zhuang people.