Cytochrome P4502E1 genetic polymorphisms and lung cancer in a Taiwanese population

Cytochrome P4502E1 (CYP2E1) is involved in metabolic activation of carcinog enic nitrosamines, benzene and low molecular weight halogenated hydrocarbon s. In this study, we assessed the association between CYP2E1 RsaI and DraI genetic polymorphisms and lung cancer in a Taiwanese population. The RsaI g enotype distribution was significantly different between 119 lung cancer pa tients and 231 non-cancer controls. The homozygote variants of RsaI genotyp es were more common in controls (6.9%) than in lung cancer patients (0.8%). The estimated odds ratio (OR) was 0.11 (95% confidence interval (CI), 0.01 -0.87). After adjusting for age, sex, and smoking status, the OR was 0.12 ( 95% CI, 0.02-0.95). This is the first observation of a positive association between this locus and lung cancer in an Asian population. No significant differences in CYP2E1 DraI genotype distributions were found between cases and controls. The results of this study indicate that CYP2E1 RsaI polymorph ism, but not DraI polymorphism, may contribute to the development of lung c ancer in Taiwan. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved .