Impact of interaction of polymorphic forms of p53 codon 72 and N-acetylation gene (NAT2) on the risk of lung cancer in the North Indian population

The interaction of genetic and environmental factors can determine individual susceptibility to various cancers. We studied the influence of NAT2 and codon 72 p53 polymorphisms on 151 patients with lung cancer and an equal number of matched population controls. Polymorphisms of NAT2 and p53 were determined by PCR-RFLP techniques. The results were analyzed using logistic regression analysis. A statistically significant relationship between NAT2*5 and NAT2*6 alleles and lung cancer risk was observed. In addition, the population with slow acetylator alleles for NAT2*5 and NAT2*6 had a significantly higher risk of lung cancer compared with rapid acetylator alleles both in smokers and nonsmokers. The combined genotype of heterozygous arginine (Arg)/proline (Pro), Pro/Pro, and slow acetylator alleles of NAT2*5 and NAT2*6 showed higher, although not significant, risk of lung cancer compared with Arg/Arg and rapid acetylator alleles of NAT2*5 and NAT2*6. In conclusion, these findings suggest that the influence of NAT2 genotype, alone or in combination with p53 genotype, may confer increased susceptibility to lung cancer.