Genetic polymorphisms in cytochrome P4502E1, alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in Gansu Chinese males

AIM:To evaluate the association between genetic polymorphisms in CYP2E1,ALDH2 and ADHIB and the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in a high risk area of Gansu province,in Chinese males.METHODS:A case-control study was conducted to investigate the genetic polymorphisms of these enzymes (CYP2EI*cl/*c2,ALDH2*I/*2 and ADHIB "1/'1genotypes).A total of 80 esophageal cancer cases and 480 controls were recruited.RESULTS:Compared with controls,cases had a greater prevalence of heavier alcohol consumption (53.8% vs 16.2%) and a higher proportion of alcohol drinkers with > 30 drink-years (28.8% vs 13.5%).Heavier alcohol consumption and alcohol drinking with > 30 drink-years increased the risk of ESCC,with ORs (95% CI)of 3.20 (1.32-9.65) and 1.68 (0.96-3.21).CYP2E1(*cl/*cl),ALDH2 ('1/'2) and ADHIB (*1/*1) genotype frequencies were higher among patients with squamous cell carcinomas,at a level close to statistical significance (P = 0.014; P = 0.094; P = 0.0001 respectively).There were synergistic interactions among alcohol drinking and ALDH2,ADHIB and CYP2E1 genotypes.The risk of the ESCC in moderate-to-heavy drinkers with an inactive ALDH2 encoded by ALDH2*I/*2 as well as ADHIB encoded by ADHIB "1/'1 and CYP2E1 encoded by CYP2E1 *cl/*cl was higher than that in the never/rare-to-light drinkers with an active ALDH2 ('1/'1 genotype)as well as ADHIB ('1/'2 *2/*2) and CYP2E1 (*c1/*c2 *c2/*c2) genotypes,with a statistically significant difference; ORs (95% CI) of 8.58 (3.28-22.68),27.12(8.52-70.19) and 7.64 (2.82-11.31) respectively.The risk of the ESCC in moderate-to-heavy drinkers with ALDH2('1/'2) combined theADHIB ('1/'1) genotype orALDH2('11"2) combined the CYP2E1 (*cl/*cl) genotype leads to synergistic interactions,higher than drinkers with ALDH2 (* 1/* 1) ADHIB ('1/'2 *2/*2),ALDH2 (* 1/* 1) CYP2E1 (*cl/*c2 *c2/*c2) respectively,ORs (95%CI) of 7.46 (3.28-18.32) and 6.82 (1.44-9.76) respectively.Individuals with the ADHIB combined the CYP2E1genotype showed no synergistic interaction.CONCLUSION:In our study,we found that alcohol consumption and polymorphisms in the CYP2E1,ADHIB and ALDH2 genes are important risk factors for ESCC,and that there was a synergistic interaction among polymorphisms in the CYP2E1,ALDH2 and ADHIB genes and heavy alcohol drinking,in Chinese males living in Gansu province,China.