Environmental Health Perspectives 105, Supplement 1, February 1997

Genetic Polymorphism of Cytochrome P450 as a Biomarker of Susceptibility
to Environmental Toxicity

Jun-Yan Hong and Chung S. Yang

College of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey

Abstract
Cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes are responsible for the metabolism of numerous xenobiotics and endogenous compounds, including the metabolic activation of most environmental toxic chemicals and carcinogens. Both metabolic and genetic polymorphisms have been identified for human CYP enzymes. The association of CYP genetic polymorphism and human cancer risk, and susceptibility to environmental hazards, have received increasing attention. This article briefly reviews the approaches and methods currently used in CYP genetic polymorphism studies. In addition, the current status and perspectives of using CYP genetic polymorphism as a biomarker of individual susceptibility to cancer and environmental toxicity are discussed. --Environ Health Perspect 105(Suppl 4):759-762 (1997)

Key words: cytochrome P450, metabolism, genetic polymorphisms, biomarker, susceptibility, cancer risk, environmental toxicity

This paper was prepared as background for the Workshop on Susceptibility to Environmental Hazards convened by the Scientific Group on Methodologies for the Safety Evaluation of Chemicals (SGOMSEC) held 17-22 March 1996 in Espoo, Finland. Manuscript received at EHP 5 November 1996; accepted 18 November 1996.
We thank T.J. Smith for helpful discussion and Y. Wang and J. Hong for assistance in the manuscript preparation.
Address correspondence to Dr. J-Y. Hong, Laboratory for Cancer Research, College of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854. Telephone: (908) 445-5358. Fax: (908) 445-0687. E-mail: jyhong@rci.rutgers.edu
Abbreviations used: cDNA, complementary DNA; CYP, cytochrome P450; PCR, polymerase chain reaction; RFLP, restriction fragment length polymorphism; RT-PCR, reverse transcription coupled with PCR.

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Last Update: June 13, 1997