CYP2D6 GENES AND RISK OF LIVER-CANCER

We have studied by use of PCR and Xbal and EcoRI restriction-fragment- length polymorphism whether mutations at the polymorphic CYP2D6 (debri soquine hydroxylase) gene locus are associated with liver cancer. The frequency of CYP2D6 genes containing inactivating mutations was lower among 75 liver cancer patients than 200 healthy controls, and 40 cirrh otic subjects that did not develop liver cancer (frequency for carrier s of two or more functional genes was 95% vs 74% vs 78%, respectively) . Subjects who were homozygous for functional CYP2D6 genes appear to b e at higher risk of developing primary liver cancer (odds ratio 6.40 [ 95% CI] 2.4-17.5).