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Abstract
Background: Dietary heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) are members of a family of chemicals that comprise highly mutagenic compounds related to colon cancer. The polymorphic N-acetyltransferase 2 enzyme (NAT2, E.C. 2.3.1.5) plays a key role in the transformation of HAAs to ultimate carcinogens. NAT2 enzyme activity is expressed in a genotype-dependent manner in colon epithelium. Therefore local activation of HAAs in colon, and hence increased risk to develop colon cancer, is likely to be related to high NAT2 enzyme activity. This study is aimed at analysing the association between genotypes leading to high NAT2 activity and colorectal cancer risk. Methods: Genomic DNA from 120 colorectal cancer patients and 258 healthy individuals were analysed for enzyme-inactivating mutations at the coding region of the NAT2 gene by means of a mutation-specific polymerase chain reaction. Results: Among patients with sigmoid colon cancer, a significant excess of individuals with genotypes leading to high NAT2 activity was observed as compared both to controls and to the rest of patients with colorectal cancer (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Our findings, which require independent confirmation, suggest that the NAT2 genotype constitutes a secondary risk factor to develop sigmoid colon cancer.