Implication of arylamine N-acetyltransferase (NAT2) polymorphism on levels of tumour markers CEA, AFP, CA 125, CA 19.9, and CA 15.3

Polymorphic arylamine N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) is responsible for metabolizing various drugs, precarcinogens and other xenobiotics. The acetylator status of an individual may influence susceptibility to certain diseases including malignancies. Numerous serum tumour markers were used for the diagnosis and management of certain types of cancers and their serum levels may be affected by several factors. A group of 60 unrelated Turkish subjects (non-smokers) was studied to determine whether an individual's acetylator status has an impact on certain tumour marker levels. The NAT 2 genotype was characterized by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism at nucleotid positions 191, 282, 341, 481, 590, 803, and 857. Serum concentrations of carcinoembryonic antigene (CEA), alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), CA19-9, CA 15-3, and CA 125 were determined in each subject. Forty-two subjects were genotyped as slow (70%) and 18 (30%) as rapid acetylators. We found that CEA serum levels among rapid acetylators were approximately 30% higher than in the slow acetylator group (p < 0.02). AFP, CA19-9, CA 15-3, and CA 125 serum levels were not altered significantly with an individual's acetylation status. The results suggest that NAT 2 genotype may have an impact on concentrations of some tumour markers in subjects without malignancies and other known factors such as smoking that can affect their serum levels.