Alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking increase the frequency of p53 mutations in non-small cell lung cancer

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated a strong association between toba cco use and lung cancer; however, the genetic targets of these carcinogens and the role of other environmental agents in this process have yet to be d efined. We examined the contribution of alcohol use and cigarette smoking t o p53 gene mutations in patients with non-small cell lung cancer. Mutations of the p53 gene were detected by sequence analysis in 105 patients with no n-small cell lung cancer. Patient characteristics significantly associated with p53 gene mutations were determined using logistic regression. Mutation s in the p53 gene were present in 53 % of the patients (56 of 105), p53 mut ations were more common in patients who used alcohol than in patients who c onsumed less than one drink per day (72 versus 39%; P = 0.003), and were de tected more often smokers than nonsmokers (58% versus 10%, P = 0.02), Mutat ions in the p53 gene were present more often (P = 0.01) in alcohol drinkers who smoked cigarettes [76% (31 of 41)], than in nondrinkers (<1 drink per day) who smoked cigarettes [42% (20 of 48)] or in nondrinkers mho did not s moke [14% (1 of 7)], In conclusion, alcohol consumption and tobacco use are both associated with p53 mutations in non-small cell lung cancer, The link between exposure to both alcohol and tobacco and p53 mutations raises the possibility that alcohol may enhance the mutagenic effects of cigarette smo ke in the lung.