Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor of human cancers.
There area a total of 6 genetic variants on human CYP2A6, including 3 missense variants we recently identified. However, the activities of 2A6v1 and other variants in metabolizing NNN, NNK, and nicotine as well as their importance in tobacco-related carcinogenesis have not been investigated. Our working hypothesis is that functional genetic polymorphisms of CYP2A6, such as 2A6v1, significantly affects an individual's ability to metabolize NNN, NNK, and nicotine. Therefore, it could be an important determinant in human susceptibility to tobacco-related carcinogenesis. To determine the allelic frequency distribution of functional CYP2A6 polymorphisms in different ethnic populations.