N-acetyltransferase 1 (NAT1) genotype: A risk factor for urinary bladder cancer in a Lebanese population

In lebanon,bladder cancer is the second most incident cancer among men. this study investigates a possible association between n-acetyltransferase 1 (nat1) genotype,a drug-metabolizing enzyme coding gene,and bladder cancer in lebanese men. a case-control study (54 cases and 105 hospital-based controls) was conducted in two major hospitals in beirut. cases were randomly selected from patients diagnosed in the period of 2002-2008. controls were conveniently identified and selected from the same settings. data was collected using interview questionnaire and blood analysis. nat1 genotypes were determined by pcr-rflp. statistical analysis revolved around univariate,bivariate,and multivariate logistic regression models,along with checks for effect modification. results showed n a t 1 * 14 a allele,smoking,occupational exposure to combustion fumes,and prostate-related symptoms,to be risk factors for bladder cancer. the odds of carrying at least one n a t 1 * 14 a allele are 7 times higher in cases compared to controls (or = 7.86,95% ci: 1.5340.39). a gene-environment interaction was identified for n a t 1 * 14 a allele with occupational exposure to combustion fumes. among carriers of n a t 1 * 14 a allele,the odds of bladder cancer dropped to 2.03 from 3.72. our study suggests n a t 1 * 14 a allele as a possible biomarker for bladder cancer. further research is recommended to confirm this association. © 2012 ibrahim a. yassine et al.