Περίληψη:
Mutations in oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes, as welt as
environmental factors such as tobacco chewing or smoking, poor oral
hygiene, ill-fitting dental appliances, infection by certain HPV types,
or alcohol abuse, seem to be involved in the multifactorial process of
carcinogenesis in head and neck. Recently, several genetic association
studies have indicated that common DNA polymorphisms in low penetrance
genes may affect the susceptibility of an individual to malignancy.
Cytokines are an important group of proteins that regulate and mediate
inflammation and angiogenesis. Tumor growth, invasion and metastasis are
facilitated when there is a deregulation in their production. Cytokines
include interleukins (ILs), tumor necrosis factors (TNFs) and certain
growth factors (GFs). A number of genetic association studies have
recently investigated the putative correlation between functional DNA
polymorphisms in cytokine genes and head and neck carcinomas. This
review discusses the findings of such studies in oral, nasopharyngeal.
and esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. Extensive research has
indicated that functional polymorphisms affecting gene expression of
IL-4,-6,-8,-10 as welt as TNF-alpha are strongly associated with
increased risk for oral cancer. Gene expression of TNF-a seems to be
associated also with esophageal. carcinomas, while for nasopharyngeal
cancer the picture is yet unclear. It is generally believed that such
genetic association studies will gradually increase our knowledge
regarding the predisposed manifestation and advancement of these
malignancies in the head and neck region. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All
rights reserved.
Συγγραφείς:
Serefoglou, Zoe
Yapijakis, Christos
Nkenke, Emeka and
Vairaktaris, Eleftherios
