CYP2D6*4 allele and breast cancer risk: is there any association?
BACKGROUND
CYP2D6 is an important cytochrome P450 enzyme. These enzymes catalyse the oxidative biotransformation of about 25% of clinically important drugs as well as the metabolism of numerous environmental chemical carcinogens. The most frequent null allele of CYP2D6 in European populations, CYP2D6*4, has been studied here in order to elucidate whether a relationship exists between this allele and the risk of developing breast cancer in a Spanish population.


METHODS
Ninety-six breast cancer Spanish patients and one hundred healthy female volunteers were genotyped for the CYP2D6*4 allele using AmpliChip CYP450 Test technology.


RESULTS
Homozygous CYP2D6*4 frequency was significant lower in breast cancer patients than in the control group (OR=0.22, p=0.04). The heterozygous CYP2D6*4 group also displayed lower values in patients than in controls but the difference was not significant (OR=0.698, p=0.28). Therefore, the presence of the CYP2D6*4 allele seems to decrease susceptibility to breast carcinoma in the selected population.


CONCLUSIONS
A possible decreased transformation of procarcinogens by CYP2D6*4 poor metabolisers could result in a protective effect against carcinogens.
Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas Básicas, Facultad de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odón, Madrid, Spain. ana.fernandez@uem.es
Ana
A
Fernández-Santander
Miguel
M
del Saz Sánchez
Armando
A
Tejerina Gómez
Fernando
F
Bandrés Moya
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000209:etiology*; D002285:Carcinoma, Intraductal, Noninfiltrating / Q000209:etiology*; D018275:Carcinoma, Lobular / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6 / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010641:Phenotype; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain
D004247:DNA; D019389:Cytochrome P-450 CYP2D6