NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) detoxifies quinones. The NQO1*2 variant enzyme (codon 609 C-->T, encoding a proline to serine substitution) with greatly reduced activity has been reported to predispose to acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Our aim was to examine the relationship between NQO1*2 and AML in Israeli patients. We analyzed for NQO1*2 in 262 adult Israeli patients with de novo AML and 688 controls of the same ethnic groups (Arabs, and Caucasian and Ethiopian Jews). Our analysis showed significant differences in the frequencies of NQO1*2 by ethnic group (p=0.000068). However, NQO1*2 frequencies did not differ between AML patients and controls. Karyotype was not found to be associated with NQO1*2. In Israeli patients, NQO1*2 does not predispose to de novo AML.