Protective role of CYP1A1*2A in the development of multiple myeloma

We had previously reported the association of the NQO1*2/*2 polymorphism with a decreased risk for multiple myeloma (MM) in Koreans (odds ratio, OR, 0.24; 95% confidence interval, CI, 0.01-0.68). The associations of polymorphisms of other metabolizing enzymes (CYP1A1, GSTM1 and GSTT1) with the MM risk were investigated in 116 Korean MM patients and 176 Korean controls using TaqMan allelic discrimination and multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The ORs for CYP1A1*1/*2A and CYP1A1*1/*2B genotypes were 0.43 (95% CI, 0.19-0.98) and 0.51 (95% CI, 0.26-0.98), respectively, which was significantly associated with a decreased MM risk. With regard to CYP1A1 alleles, the OR for the CYP1A1*2A allele was 0.57 (95% CI, 0.326-0.995), which was also significantly associated with a decreased MM risk. However, null types of GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms were not associated with the MM risk. These results were different from those of a previous report on Caucasians which suggested the association of the GSTT1 polymorphism with an increased MM risk and no association of CYP1A1 with the MM risk. The associations of polymorphisms of metabolizing enzymes with the risk for MM differed between Koreans and Caucasians, suggesting an ethnic variation in the susceptibility to MM.