Association Between MMP9 Gene Polymorphism and Skin Cancer Risk

Strategic Insights -

A recent study conducted in the United States has provided evidence for the contribution of the MMP9 Arg668Gln polymorphism to the development of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). The study, published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, analyzed the associations of six nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the MMP3, MMP8, and MMP9 genes with skin cancer risk. The researchers found that the MMP9 Arg668Gln polymorphism was significantly associated with a decreased risk of SCC, with a multivariate odds ratio of 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.97) for the Arg/Gln group and 0.21 (95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.97) for the Gln/Gln group.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study evaluated the associations of six nonsynonymous SNPs in the MMP3, MMP8, and MMP9 genes with skin cancer risk in a nested case-control study of Caucasians within the Nurses' Health Study.
  • The MMP9 Arg668Gln polymorphism was significantly associated with a decreased risk of SCC, with a multivariate odds ratio of 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.97) for the Arg/Gln group and 0.21 (95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.97) for the Gln/Gln group.
  • No associations were found for other SNPs with skin cancer risk.
  • The researchers concluded that this study provides evidence for the contribution of the MMP9 Arg668Gln to SCC development.
  • The study was published in Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.
  • The researchers acknowledged the support of the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and thanked the Nurses' Health Study participants for their contributions.

Statistics:

  • 21.8 melanoma cases were analyzed in the study.
  • 285 squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cases were analyzed in the study.
  • 300 basal cell carcinoma (BCC) cases were analyzed in the study.
  • 870 normal controls were analyzed in the study.
  • The multivariate odds ratio for the MMP9 Arg668Gln polymorphism was 0.67 (95% confidence interval, 0.47-0.97) for the Arg/Gln group and 0.21 (95% confidence interval, 0.05-0.97) for the Gln/Gln group.
  • The study had a P-trend of 0.004.

Sources:

  • Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, Mossense Polymorphims in Matrix Metalloproteinase Genes and Skin Cancer Risk, 2008;17(12):3551-3557.
  • Harvard University, School Public Health, Dept. of Epidemiology, Program Molecular & Genetics Epidemiology, 677 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
  • American Association for Cancer Research, 615 Chestnut St., 17TH Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404, USA.