Association between cigarette smoking, genetic polymorphism and myelodysplasia: a multicentric case-control study.

BACKGROUND

Both cigarette smoking (CGS), through its role as a benzene source, and some metabolic detoxyfiying enzymes (EDTOX) polymorphisms that hamper its inactivation, are considered as risk factors for the development of myelodysplastic neoplasms (MDS) and related disorders. This study aims to confirm such associations.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

We recruited 61 patients diagnosed with MDS following FAB Group criteria and 180 adults without peripheral blood cytopenia, and we analyzed: i) the crude odds-ratio (OR) for MDS between smokers and non-smokers, ii) the crude OR for MDS between homozygous individuals for the mutation NQO1609C-T, or harboring deletions in the genes codyfing for GSTM1 y GSTT1, and those who did not show such genotypes, and iii) the OR for MDS between smokers and non-smokers, adjusted for other potential risk factors.

RESULTS

Our data confirm the association between MDS with a 28 pack-year or greater CGS history (OR 3.10; IC 95% 1.38-6.96). Conversely, we did not observe any association between MDS diagnosis and the EDTOX genotypes analyzed.

CONCLUSIONS

Cigarette smoking history is more relevant than EDTOX genotype in MDS etiopathogenesis.