Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) polymorphism, alcohol, cigarette smoking and risk of oesophageal cancer.
OBJECTIVE
Alcohol, tobacco smoke and Barrett's oesophagus as a consequence of gastro-oesophageal reflux are the main risk factors in oesophageal carcinogenesis. All risk factors may induce oxidative stress. Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) is one important repair enzyme for reactive oxidative stress (ROS)-induced damage. MnSOD polymorphisms in the -9 position of the signal sequence of the protein may lead to critical enzyme deficiency. The aim of the present study was to investigate the role of polymorphisms of MnSOD in patients with oesophageal cancer [n = 170, 61 patients with adenocarcinoma (AC), 109 patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC)] compared to heavy drinkers (n = 160) and healthy blood donors (n = 400).


METHODS
Genotyping was performed by PCR-RFLP analysis using genomic DNA extracted from whole blood.


RESULTS
The Ala/Ala genotype was 27.7% in cancer patients (29.5% AC, 26.6% SCC), 23.1% in patients with heavy alcohol abuse and 12.5% in the group of healthy blood donors. These results were not statistically significant after multivariate analysis controlling for age, sex, alcohol, cigarettes and interactions (odds ratio 0.92, 95% confidence interval = 0.63-1.36, for cancer patients versus heavy drinkers; odds ratio 1.02, 95% confidence interval = 0.51-2.03, for cancer patients versus blood donors; analysis by logistic regression). Subjects with an Ala/Ala genotype (81.3 g/day) had a significantly higher alcohol intake than those with Val/Ala (63.9 g/day) or Val/Val (53.8 g/day) genotype (P < 0.00001 by the Kruskal-Wallis test).


CONCLUSIONS
MnSOD polymorphisms play no role in the genetic predisposition to oesophageal cancer. However, our data suggest a complex gene-to-phenotype interaction between the MnSOD genotype and alcohol misuse.
Sun
L
L
Department of Medicine I, University Hospital of Schleswig Holstein, Campus Lübeck, Germany.
König
I R
IR
Homann
N
N
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000235:genetics*
D000431:Ethanol; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase