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

Carcinogenesis. 1999 Sep;20(9):1877-81. doi: 10.1093/carcin/20.9.1877.

Abstract

Among non-smokers, the factors resulting in lung carcinogenesis are poorly understood. We conducted a hospital-based case-control analysis of 294 Chinese women, of whom 217 were non-smokers, to evaluate the role of polymorphic N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) as a susceptibility factor for the disease. The 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 seen among smokers. Among non-smokers, the effect was marked for adenocarcinomas (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1-4.0). As NAT2 activity is known to modify risk of arylamine-induced carcinogenesis, our results suggest that exposure to arylamines in the environment may play a role in risk of lung cancer among non-smokers.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Acetylation
  • Adenocarcinoma / enzymology
  • Adenocarcinoma / epidemiology*
  • Adenocarcinoma / ethnology
  • Adenocarcinoma / genetics
  • Aged
  • Amines / adverse effects
  • Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / enzymology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / ethnology
  • Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / enzymology
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / epidemiology
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / ethnology
  • Carcinoma, Small Cell / genetics
  • Case-Control Studies
  • China / ethnology
  • Cooking
  • Environmental Exposure
  • Female
  • Gene Frequency
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Genotype
  • Heterocyclic Compounds / adverse effects
  • Humans
  • Lung Neoplasms / enzymology
  • Lung Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Lung Neoplasms / ethnology
  • Lung Neoplasms / genetics
  • Middle Aged
  • Odds Ratio
  • Polymorphism, Genetic
  • Singapore / epidemiology
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • Smoking Cessation / statistics & numerical data
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution / statistics & numerical data

Substances

  • Amines
  • Heterocyclic Compounds
  • Tobacco Smoke Pollution
  • Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase
  • NAT2 protein, human