Background: The polymorphic gene loci of the detoxifying enzymes GST and CYP are susceptibility factors for single head and neck cancer. In patients with multiple cancer development a cumulation of genetic risk factors can be assumed.
Methods: Accordingly, we have examined genotype frequencies at GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTM3, GSTP1, CYP2D6, CYP1A1, CYP2E1, and TNF loci, in patients with single and multiple squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the head and neck, and controls.
Results: GSTT1 0 was increased in multiple SCC patients (36.8 %) compared with single SCC patients (21.2 %) and controls (22.2 %). GSTM3 AA was more frequent in the single SCC patients (76.6 %) and multiple SCC patients (82.1 %) compared with controls (66.5 %) but lacked significance. The TNF allele B3 was significantly increased in the single SCC group (B3-allele: 22.5 %, B3/B3 : 10.8 %) and showed a further cumulation in the multiple SCC group (B3 : 30.3 %, B3/B3 : 15.8 %).
Conclusions: Patients suffering from multiple SCC development showed a cumulation of high risk genotypes at GST and TNF gene loci. Specific genetic variations could not be determined.