EVALUATION OF MUTATION OF BCL2 SNPS WITH RISK OF SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA HEAD AND NECK (HNSCC) IN KASHMIRI POPULATION.

Objective: To find relationship between Bcl2 SNPs and squamous cell carcinoma head and neck (SCCHN) in patients from Kashmir population. Study design: Case control study. Setting: Tertiary care hospital (SMHS associated Medical College, Srinagar, Kashmir, India) Participants: 50 cases and 50 controls of squamous cell carcinoma head and neck reported our hospital from 2013-2016. Results: Results were obtained from cases and 50 controls with a mean age of 32 (range 25-39). Conclusion: In the present study statistically insignificant association of Bcl2 and Squamous cell carcinoma Head & Neck was seen , further analyses showed that among BCL2 heterozygotes after adjustment for age, sex, and smoking status, BCL2 A variant genotypes were associated with a decreased risk of SCCHN (adjusted OR=0.40, 95% CI=0.158-1.01 for CA and OR=0.4, 95% CI=0.36-0.95 for combined (GG +CC genotype. These altered risks appeared to be consistent with the anti-apoptotic role of BCL2 in the pathogenesis of Head and Neck Squamous cell carcinoma. Our data suggest that the risk of SCCHN may be associated with these SNPs of BCL2 promoter regions in SCCHN. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings. Keywords: Squamous cell carcinoma Head and neck, Bcl2 mutation, Bcl2 heterozygotes, anti-apoptotic