University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute

Scientific Achievements

PROJECT 5: EPIDEMIOLOGY OF GENETIC SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ORAL CANCER

Principal Investigators: Joel S. Weissfeld, MD, MPH and Marjorie Romkes, PhD

Scientific Achievements:

Project 5 investigators are completing interim analyses that involve 258 incidence oral cancer cases and 433 controls. Subjects have been tested for genetic variations involving Phase I and Phase II enzymes that metabolize nicotine and other xenobiotics. Candidate genes include MPO, CYP1A1, CYP2E, mEH, GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1, and NAT2. Initial data analyses show a possible over-representation of ìfastî NAT2 genotypes among cases relative to controls. Otherwise, case and control groups appear comparable with respect to the distribution of genotypes. Definitive results and interpretations require completion of analyses that examine a combination of genotypes in relation to smoking and alcohol exposure (related information available at: http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2003-07-13-lung-cancer-usat_x.htm).