NAT2 slow acetylator genotype is associated with increased risk of lung cancer among non-smoking Chinese women in Singapore

Among non-smokers, the factors resulting in lung carcinogenesis are poorly understood. We conducted a hospital-based case-control analysis of 294 Chin ese women, of whom 217 were non-smokers, to evaluate the role of polymorphi c N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) as a susceptibility factor for the disease. Th e proportion of slow acetylator genotypes among non-smoking cases (n = 92) and controls (n = 125) was 38.0 and 24.0%, respectively [odds ratio (OR) 2. 0, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.1-3.7], No effect of NAT2 genotype was se en among smokers. Among non-smokers, the effect was marked for adenocarcino mas (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.0). As NAT2 activity is known to modify risk of a rylamine-induced carcinogenesis, our results suggest that exposure to aryla mines in the environment may play a role in risk of lung cancer among non-s mokers.