Background and aims: N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) is a polymorphic enzyme that plays an important role in the metabolism of various potential carcinogens. NAT2 can be subdivided into rapid and slow acetylation phenotype according to the different genotypes. Studies investigating the association between NAT2 polymorphisms and gastric cancer risk in humans showed conflicting results. The aim of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis assessing the association of NAT2 acetylation phenotype with risk of gastric cancer.
Methods: Relevant studies were identified through a search of Embase, ISI Web of Knowledge, Medline and Chinese Biomedicine Database until January 2010. A meta-analysis was conducted to quantitatively summarize association of NAT2 acetylation phenotype with GC susceptibility.
Results: Thirteen studies were included in the present meta-analysis, which described a total of 2,391 gastric cancer cases and 3,237 controls. The combined ORs for NAT2 slow or rapid acetylator and gastric cancer risk were 1.05 (95% CI 0.810-1.35) and 0.96 (95% CI 0.74-1.23), respectively. When stratifying for race and Lauren's classification, results also showed no significant association in genotype distribution between gastric cancer and control.
Conclusions: No association is found between NAT2 acetylation status and gastric cancer risk in this meta-analysis.
Copyright 2010 IMSS. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.