The Association of CCL4 rs1634507 and rs10491121 Polymorphisms with Susceptibility of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in an Iranian Population: A Case-Control Study

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: CCL4 (C-C chemokine ligand4) is a chemoattractant involved in tumors' development, progression, and metastasis. The relationship between the ccl4 gene polymorphisms and the risk of OSCC has not been studied in Iran. This study aimed to identify the effect of ccl4 gene polymorphism on OSCC susceptibility in the population of Southeastern Iran. METHODS: In this case-control study, a total of 100 participants, 50 patients with OSCC who were referred to the Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Iran, and 50 healthy people were included. The DNA was extracted from the tissue blocks of OSCC patients. The rs10491121 and rs1634507 in the ccl4 gene were evaluated by the tetra-ARMS (Amplification Refractory Mutation System)- PCR technique. Data were analyzed in SPSS (version 21) using the Chi-square and logistic regression test. RESULTS: CCL4 genotyping showed that AA+AG genotype in rs10491121 and AA+CA genotype in rs1634507 were slightly higher in control than in the case. Still, the risk of OSCC in both polymorphisms was not significantly different. The minor allele (A) in the rs10491121 and rs1634507 polymorphisms were more common in OSCC compared to the control group (OR = 1.2, 95% CI: 0.66 – 2.22, P=0.54) (OR = 1.6, 95% CI: 0.85-3.07, P=0.15). There was no association between OSCC histopathological grades and CCL4 genotypes at these two sites. CONCLUSION: Our results showed no association between ccl4 gene polymorphism and the risk of oral cancer in the population of Southeastern Iran.