Microsomal epoxide hydrolase genotypes and the risk for head and neck cancer.
BACKGROUND
Microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH) is an enzyme involved in the metabolism of (pre)carcinogens in tobacco smoke. We investigated whether functional genetic polymorphisms in mEH may have a risk-modifying effect on head and neck carcinogenesis.


METHODS
Blood from 429 patients with oral, pharyngeal, and laryngeal carcinoma and 419 healthy subjects was investigated for mEH polymorphisms.


RESULTS
Logistic regression analysis did not show differences in mEH genotype distributions between patients and controls, when categorized according to predicted mEH enzyme activity. Also no differences were found when evaluated according to tumor localization, sex, or tobacco consumption. A significantly higher incidence of the 139Arg/Arg variant was found in patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma compared with controls (OR = 4.39, 95% CI = 1.45 to 13.35).


CONCLUSIONS
In contrast to earlier reports, we could not demonstrate a risk-modifying effect of genetic polymorphisms in mEH on head and neck carcinogenesis, except for the predicted high activity variant in patients with hypopharyngeal carcinoma.
Lacko
Martin
M
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Maastricht, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Roelofs
Hennie M J
HM
Te Morsche
Rene H M
RH
Voogd
Adri C
AC
Oude Ophuis
Michael B
MB
Peters
Wilbert H M
WH
Manni
Johannes J
JJ
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005838:Genotype; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016019:Survival Analysis
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases