Original Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2001. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 15, 2001; 7(6): 792-795
Published online Dec 15, 2001. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v7.i6.792
Cytochrome P450 2E1 genetic polymorphism and gastric cancer in Changle, Fujian Province
Lin Cai, Shun-Zhang Yu, Zuo-Feng Zhang
Lin Cai, Department of Epidemiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, Fujian Province, China
Shun-Zhang Yu, Department of Epidemiology, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200032, China
Zuo-Feng Zhang, Department of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles California, USA
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, China, No. C001009
Correspondence to: Lin Cai, Department of Epidemiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, 350004, Fujian Province, China. zjcailin@pub5.fz.fj.cn
Telephone: +86-591-3569264
Received: May 30, 2001
Revised: June 19, 2001
Accepted: July 1, 2001
Published online: December 15, 2001
Abstract

AIM: Genetic polymorphism in enzymes of carcinogen metabolism has been found to have the influence on the susceptibility to cancer. Cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) is considered to play an important role in the metabolic activation of procarcinogens such as N-nitrosoamines and low molecular weight organic compounds. The purpose of this study is to determine whether CYP450 2E1 polymorphisms are associated with risks of gastric cancer.

METHODS: We conducted a population based case-control study in Changle county, Fujian Province, a high-risk region of gastric cancer in China. Ninety-one incident gastric cancer patients and ninety-four healthy controls were included in our study. Datas including demographic characteristcs, diet intake, and alcohol and tobacco consumption of indivduals in our study were completed by a standardized questionnaire. PCR-RFLP revealed three genotypes:heterozygote (C1/C2) and two homozygotes (C1/C1 and C2/C2) in CYP2E1.

RESULTS: The frequency of variant genotypes (C1/C2 and C2/C2) in gastric cancer cases and controls was 36.3% and 24.5%, respectively. The rare homozygous C2/C2 genotype was found in 6 indivduals in gastric cancer group (6.6%), whereas there was only one in the control group (1.1%). However, there was no statistically significan difference between the two groups (two-tailed Fisher’s exact test, P = 0.066). Indivduals in gastric cancer group were more likely to carry genotype C1/C2 (odds ratio, OR = 1.50) and C2/C2 (OR = 7.34) than indivduals in control group (χ² = 4.597, for trend P = 0.032). The frequencies of genotypes with the C2 allele (C1/C2 and C2/C2 genotypes) were compared with those of genotypes without C2 allele (C1/C1 genotype) among indivduals in gastric cancer group and control group according to the pattern of gastric cancer risk factors. The results show that indivduals who exposed to these gastric cancer risk factors and carry the C2 allele seemed to have a higher risk of developing gastric cancer.

CONCLUSION: Polymorphism of CYP2E1 gene may have some effct in the development of gastric cancer in Changle county, Fujian Province.

Keywords: gastric neoplasm/genetics; gastric neoplasm/etiology; Cytochrome P-450 2E1; CYP2E1/genetics; genotype; human; FUJIAN