Abstract: BACKGROUND ＆ AIM: To study the polymorphisms of the O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) gene codon 84(C2740214T), codon 143(A2798995G) and codon 160 (G2799046A)for esophageal cancer and to assess the prevalence of these polymorphisms in Chinese Chaoshan population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A microarray-based method for genotype analysis of esophageal cancer patients and healthy controls were performed. Amplified PCR products from genomic DNA specimens were spotted and immobilized onto glass slide to fabricate a microarray, then detected by hybridization with dual-color probes.100 patients and 65 healthy controls were tested for codon 84.76 patients and 50 healthy controls were tested for codons 143 and 160. RESULTS: The prevalence of the 2740214 CT in patients was 0.16 and 0.123 in controls .The prevalence of the 2740214 TT was 0.02 in patients but not detected in controls. Heterozygote at codon 143 was found in one healthy individual, but didn't exist in the cancer patients. In all the samples, no mutation was detected at codon 160. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the polymorphisms of MGMT exist in Chinese Chaoshan population.Homozygous mutant at codon 84 might be correlated with carcinogenesis.

Key words: O6-Methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase, single nucleotide polymorphism, Hybridization, esophageal cancer