OBJECTIVETo evaluate the association of MnSOD single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with the susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in Cantonese.

METHODSA total of 105 Cantonese NPC patients and 136 age-matched healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Genotyping of the SNP Ala-9Val of MnSOD gene was performed by PCR and direct sequencing of the PCR products.

RESULTSThe allele frequency of Ala in Cantonese was 19.1%. The frequencies of Val/Val, Val/Ala, and Ala/Ala genotypes were 83.8%, 14.3%, and 1.9% in NPC patients and 80.9%, 16.9%, and 2.2% in healthy individuals, respectively. No significant differences were found in the allele or genotype frequencies between NPC patients and controls. Ala/Val genotype was shown to be significantly less frequent in patients with a positive lymph node status, but the allele Ala was not correlated to lymph node involvement. No significant differences were found in the allele and genotype frequencies in patients with different tumor sizes, metastatic statuses, clinical statuses and histological types.

CONCLUSIONMnSOD Ala-9Val polymorphism can be region- and race-related, and it is not correlated to the genetic susceptibility of NPC in Cantonese.