Nooshin Mohtasham - Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Farnaz Mohajertehran - Dental Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Fahimeh Afzaljavan - Clinical Research Development Unit, Imam Reza Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Alieh Farshbaf - Dental Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Kiumars Maraqehmoqadam - School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Maryam Tavakoliroodi - School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
Majid Mirhashemi - Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.

Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCC) comprise ۹۰-۹۵% of oral cancers. Early diagnosis improved the survival rate of OSCC patients to ۸۰–۹۰%. Oral lichen planus (OLP) is a chorionic inflammatory disease with malignancy potential. The vitamin D receptor (VDR) plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of oral cancer. This study aimed to determine the association between VDR rs۷۹۷۵۲۳۲ (Apa I) polymorphism and potential susceptibility to OLP and OSCC risks. Materials and Methods: In this prospective case-control study, a total of ۱۲۰ blood samples were obtained from OSCC patients (n=۲۹), OLP (n=۵۰), and controls (n=۴۰). VDR rs۷۹۷۵۲۳۲ polymorphism was studied using the Polymerase Chain Reaction Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS Version ۲۳ software. Data were expressed as means ± standard deviation (SD). Age, sex, allelic frequency, and genotyping were compared using the chi-square test. A p-value of less than ۰.۰۵ was regarded as statistically significant. The disease risk was estimated by Odds ratio (OR) with a ۹۵% confidence interval. Results: A significant age difference was observed between the controls and the OSCC group (p=۰.۰۰۱). A significant difference was observed in Aa and aa genotypes compared with AA between OSCCs and controls. Moreover, dominant (p<۰.۰۰۱), additive (p<۰.۰۰۱), and allelic (p=۰.۰۰۱) models were different between groups. Conclusion: There was a positive association between rs۷۹۷۵۲۳۲ VDR polymorphism and susceptibility to OSCC. More experimental evidence must reveal the possible association between rs۷۹۷۵۲۳۲ and the risk of OLP in a larger cohort.

ApaI, Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck, Oral lichen planus, Mouth Neoplasms, Vitamin D receptor, rs۷۹۷۵۲۳۲