Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and other tobacco-related carcinogens are oxidized by phase I enzymes into reactive metabolites that are then detoxified by phase II enzymes. These findings suggested that polymorphisms in genes controlling metabolism of carcinogens underlie individual variations in cancer susceptibility. Moreover, it is unclear whether there is a relation between genetically determined individual susceptibilities and target gene mutations in lung carcinogenesis. We examined K-ras mutations in relation to polymorphisms in the cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and glutathione S-transferase μ1 (GSTM1) genes in 246 patients with lung adenocarcinoma and 167 patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma. K-ras mutations were found in 33 of 413 (8.0%) tumors, and all K-ras gene mutations were found in habitual smokers, 110 non-smokers were excluded from final analysis. Among smokers with lung adenocarcinoma, K-ras mutations occurred with greater frequency in patients with the GSTM1(−) genotype than in those with the GSTM1(+) genotype. Patients with a combination of the CYP1A1 m1/m2 and GSTM1(−) genotypes showed an increased probability of having mutated K-ras genes (OR, 6.00; p=0.031; 95% CI, 1.18-30.62) in comparison to those with the CYP1A1 m1/m1 and GSTM1(+) genotypes. The impact of combined genotypes of the CYP1A1 Ile/Val polymorphism and GSTM1 on mutation of K-ras was also analyzed, and a higher risk of having a mutated K-ras gene was found for both the CYP1A1 Ile/Ile and GSTM1(−) (OR, 6.32; p=0.021; 95% CI, 1.33-30.19) and CYP1A1 Ile/Val and GSTM1(−) (OR, 6.09; p=0.042; 95% CI, 1.07-34.72) genotype combinations in patients with adenocarcinoma. There was no significant association for squamous cell carcinoma. In conclusion, these findings suggest that K-ras mutations in smokers with lung adenocarcinoma may be due in part to accumulation of carcinogens, which is not adequately detoxified in individuals with certain CYP1A1 genotypes and the GSTM1(−) genotype.

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