Cytochrome P450 2A6 (CYP2A6) is an enzyme responsible for the metabolism of nicotine and some tobacco-specific carcinogens (such as N-nitrosamines). CYP2A6 genetic variations are associated with the activity of the CYP2A6 enzyme, which affects smoking behavior and the rate at which some tobacco-specific carcinogens are metabolized, which in turn determines the incidence of lung cancer. Several studies have investigated the relationship between CYP2A6 genotypes and lung cancer; however, the results are controversial. In this meta-analysis, we searched for all studies on the association between CYP2A6 genotypes and lung cancer indexed in the MEDLINE, PubMed, Embase, China Biological Medicine, and Wanfang databases from January 1, 1966 to August 1, 2011. The pooled odds ratios (ORs) for one CYP2A6 mutant allele and two CYP2A6 mutant alleles, in comparison with the wild-type CYP2A6 gene, were 0.82 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.73-0.92] and 0.57 (95% CI = 0.48-0.68), respectively. Furthermore, in two studies of participants who were all smokers, the associations of one CYP2A6 mutant allele and two CYP2A6 mutant alleles with reduced risk of lung cancer were strengthened, and the pooled ORs were 0.71 (95% CI = 0.58-0.87) and 0.47 (95% CI = 0.35-0.62), respectively. However, we did not find statistically significant relationships between CYP2A6 genotypes and lung cancer in studies that included both never smokers and smokers (pooled OR(one CYP2A6 mutant allele) = 0.88, 95% CI = 0.76-1.01; pooled OR(two CYP2A6 mutant alleles) = 0.61, 95% CI = 0.35-1.06). The results of this meta-analysis suggest that the reduced-activity CYP2A6 genotype may decrease the risk of lung cancer in smokers only.
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