Aim: To identify whether the polymorphisms of the N-acetyltransferase (NAT) genes are susceptible to primary liver cancer (PLC) in Luoyang, a PLC low-incidence area of China.
Methods: The NAT1 and NAT2 genotypes of 96 PLC cases and 173 controls were determined by PCR-RFLP. Both interaction between NAT1 or NAT2 and environmental risk factors were analyzed based on case control study.
Results: Compared to the control group, the frequencies of alleles NAT1*3, NAT1*4, NAT1*10, NAT1*14B and alleles NAT2*4, NAT2*6, NAT2*7 in PLC group showed no statistically significant difference (chi(2) = 2.61 and 4.16, respectively, both P>0.05). The frequencies of NAT1 genotypes NAT1*3/*3, NAT1*3/*4, NAT1*3/*10, NAT1*3/*14B, NAT1*4/*4, NAT1*4/*10, NAT1*4/*14B, NAT1*10/*10, NAT1*10/*14B, and NAT2 genotypes NAT2*4/*4, NAT2*4/*6, NAT2*4/*7, NAT2*6/*6, NAT2*6/*7 and NAT2*7/*7 also had no statistically significant difference between the two groups (chi(2) = 11.86 and 2.94 respectively both, P>0.05). Neither the frequencies of rapid and slow NAT1 acetylators nor the frequencies of rapid and slow NAT2 acetylators were significantly different between the two groups (chi(2) = 0.598 and 0.44, respectively, both P>0.05). The interaction between NAT1*10 and occupational exposures was found significant with an odds ratio of 3.40 (chi(2) = 8.42, P = 0.004, OR 95%CI:1.03-11.22). But no interaction was found between NAT2 and any environmental risk factors.
Conclusion: The polymorphisms of NAT1 and NAT2 are not susceptible to PLC in Luoyang. Allele NAT1*10 interacts with occupational exposures.