Association between ALDH2 polymorphism and esophageal cancer risk in South Koreans: a case-control study

• Published in: BMC cancer Vol. 21; no. 1; pp. 254 - 6
• Main Authors: Choi, Chang Kyun, Yang, Jungho, Kweon, Sun-Seog, Cho, Sang-Hee, Kim, Hye-Yeon, Myung, Eun, Shin, Min-Ho
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BioMed Central 09.03.2021; BioMed Central Ltd; BMC
• Subjects: Acetaldehyde; Aged; Alcohol; Alcohol drinking; Aldehyde dehydrogenase; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial - genetics; ALDH2; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer; Cancer Research; Cardiovascular disease; Case-Control Studies; Dehydrogenases; Enzymes; Epidemiology; Esophageal cancer; Esophageal Neoplasms - etiology; Esophageal Neoplasms - genetics; Esophagus; Female; Gene polymorphism; Genetic aspects; Genetic polymorphisms; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Genotype & phenotype; Health aspects; Health Promotion and Disease Prevention; Humans; Male; Medical records; Medicine/Public Health; Metabolism; Middle Aged; Oncology; Oncology, Experimental; Oxidoreductases; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Genetic; Population studies; prevention and public health; Research Article; Risk; Risk factors; Sexes; Surgical Oncology; South Korea; Case-control studies; Alcohol drinking; Esophageal cancer; ALDH2
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/s12885-021-07993-4

Background Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for esophageal cancer; however, a high incidence of esophageal cancer is observed particularly among Eastern Asians, although they consume relatively less alcohol, presumably due to the high frequency of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 ( ALDH2 ) rs671 polymorphisms. Nevertheless, the association between ALDH2 polymorphisms and esophageal cancer remains under debate. In the present study, we evaluated the association between ALDH2 rs671 polymorphisms and the risk of esophageal cancer in the South Korean population. Methods This study included 783 hospital based-cases and 8732 population-based controls. Information on smoking history and alcohol consumption was obtained from the medical records or interview questionnaires. Age-adjusted logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between ALDH2 rs671 polymorphisms and esophageal cancer. Results Odds ratios (ORs) for esophageal cancer in men with GA and AA genotypes were 2.75 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.34–3.23) and 0.08 (95% CI: 0.00–0.35), respectively; whereas, in women, these ratios were 2.99 (95% CI: 1.43–6.34) and 6.18 (95% CI: 1.40–19.62), respectively, taking subjects with the ALDH2 GG genotype as a reference. In men, the association between ALDH2 polymorphisms and esophageal cancer was modified by alcohol consumption. Conclusion In Eastern Asians, ALDH2 rs671 polymorphisms are associated with esophageal cancer, which may be linked to acetaldehyde accumulation.