Metabolic genetic polymorphisms and susceptibility to lung cancer

Activity of some enzymes implicated in the metabolism of tobacco carcinogens presents a great variability between individuals due to the existence of a polymorphism in gene coding for these enzymes. Individual susceptibility to develop lung cancer could therefore depend not only on exposure to tobacco smoking, but also on genetic capacity to activate or inactivate tobacco carcinogens. This article summarizes the state of knowledge on metabolic polymorphisms and lung cancer susceptibility, and opens the discussion on the future direction of this promising way of research. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.