Association between Genetic Polymorphisms of the Cytochrome P-4501A1 and Susceptibility to Pancreatic Cancer

Lee, Han Chu; Yoon, Young Bum; Kim, Chung Yong

Abstract

Rackground/Aims: Cigarette smoking is the best-established risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Metabolic activation is a prerequisite for the carcinogenic effect of many carcinogens, and the CYP1A1 activates polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in smoke. Genetic polymorphisms of the CYP1AI have been shown to be related to inter-individual variation in metabolic activation of carcinogens and to increased susceptibilitv to lung cancer. The aim of this study was to clarify the association between genetic polymorphisms of the CYP1Al and tbe susceptibility to pancreatic cancer, another smoking-related cancer.
METHODS
We analyzed 45 samples from patients with pancreatic cancer (28 males, 17 females) and 53 samples from controls. DNA was isolated from blood samples and the CYP1A1 gene was amplified by PCR. Analyzing the genotypes of the CYP1A1 by allele-specific PCR or RFLP analysis, we assessed the mutant allele frequencies of the CYP1Al among cases and controls.
RESULTS
(1) The allele frequencies for mutation in the 3-flanking region of the CYP1A1 (ml) among cases and controls were 0.31 and 0.36, respectively. (2) The allele frequencies for exon 7 mutation of the CYP1A1 (m2) were 0.16 and 0,235, respectively, with no statistical significance. (3) There was no difference iin the mutant allele frequencies of the CYP1A1 among smokers and non-smokers in patients with pancreatic cancer.
CONCLUSIONS
No association was found between genetic polytnorphisms of the CYP1A1 and the susceptibility to pancreatic cancer.