Acetylation genotype and the genetic susceptibility to prostate cancer in a southern European population

Abstract

Background: Epidemiologic studies have suggested that environmental factors and diet are important risk factors in the pathogenesis of prostate cancer. The N-acetyltransferases (NAT) are important enzymes in activation and inactivation of various carcinogens, including those found in well-cooked meat and cigarette smoke.

Methods: We analyzed DNA samples from 146 prostate cancer patients and 174 healthy men. We used PCR-RFLP method to analyze NAT 1 and NAT 2 polymorphisms.

Results: We did not find statistically significant differences in NAT 1 genotypes frequencies between prostate cancer patients and control group. We observed an association of the slow acetylator genotype, NAT 2*6/NAT2*6 with prostate cancer protection (P=0.017; OR=0.31, 95% CI 0.11--0.84). Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed this association (0.030; OR=0.32, 95% CI 0.12--0.89).

Conclusions: Our results indicate a role of NAT2 polymorphisms in the carcinogenic pathway of prostate cancer, specifically in a population of Southern Europe.