Metabolizing enzyme genotype and risk for upper aerodigestive tract cancer

Genetic polymorphisms are associated with a number of enzymes involved in t he metabolism of carcinogens important in the induction of upper aerodigest ive tract cancer. It has been suggested that such polymorphisms may be link ed to cancer susceptibility. Using a case-control molecular epidemiologic a pproach, the association between many of these genetic polymorphisms and su sceptibility to upper aerodigestive tract cancer has been investigated in n umerous studies. In this review, we summarize the findings of these studies , analyzing potential associations with upper aerodigestive tract cancer ri sk in terms of gene:environment interactions, genotype-induced functional d efects in enzyme activity and/or expression, and the influence of race on t hese associations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.