Polymorphism of FGFR4 in cancer development and sensitivity to cisplatin and radiation in head and neck cancer

The aim of this study was to investigate the predisposition of the FGFR4 Gly/Arg polymorphism for development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and, furthermore, to examine if the FGFR4 Arg388 allele can be associated with resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy.

When analysing 110 tumour biopsies a significant 1.7-fold increased risk to develop HNSCC in individuals carrying the Gly388 allele (p=0.026) was found. Moreover a 2-fold increased risk for males harbouring the Gly388 allele (p=0.031) to develop HNSCC was detected. In 39 HNSCC cell lines the role of the Arg388 allele for radiation and cisplatin sensitivity was investigated. Our results show no role of the Arg388 allele for the radiosensitivity (p=0.996) but indicate a tendency to increased cisplatin sensitivity (p=0.141). When screening the transmembrane and kinase domains in the FGFR4 gene a novel mutation, probably generating a truncated protein lacking exons 14–18, was found in six of eight selected cell lines.

Taken together, we have here identified a marker that predicts the risk to develop HNSCC and possibly the sensitivity to cisplatin as well as a novel mutation in the FGFR4 gene.