Role of functional polymorphism of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (-1306 C/T and -168 G/T) and MMP-9 (-1562 C/T) promoter in oral submucous fibrosis and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma in an Indian population

The aim of this study was to explore the association of MMP-2 (-1306 C/T and -168 G/T) and MMP-9 (-1562 C/T) promoter polymorphisms in oral submucous fibrosis (OSMF) and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cases. These SNP were genotyped by PCR-RFLP. Total of 1260 individuals were recruited, of which 412 OSMF, 422 HNSCC and 426 were controls. In HNSCC, MMP-2 (-1306 C/T) and MMP-9 (-1562C/T) polymorphism, T allele showed strong association (p < 0.00 and p < 0.01) as compared to healthy control respectively, but not in case of OSMF and showed significant association with increasing progression of clinico-pathological grading. We concluded that SNPs in the MMP-2 and -9 promoter region may be associated with susceptibility to HNSCC not in OSMF.