Abstract
We investigated 115 patients with oral cancer (76 males and 39 females) and 121 people without oral cancer (69 males and 52 females) both groups with history of tobacco and alcohol use. We drew blood from both groups and analyzed of ALDH2 genotyping. In cancer group smoking rate (male 84.2% and female 35.9%) and drinking rate (male 77.7% and female 35.9%) was significantly higher than in non cancer group (Smoking rate: male 68.1% and female 5.8%, Drinking rate: male 43.6% and female 5.8%, p<0.05). In cancer group, heavy smoker (pack-years 50+) and heavy drinker (sake index 60+) rates were significantly higher than in non cancer group (p<0.05).
The incidence of ALDH 2*2 allele in cancer group with drinking habit was 31.5% higher than in non cancer group with drinking habit (18.1%). We considered ALDH 2*2 allele possibily a new risk factor of developing oral cancer and it is very useful for screening oral cancer.
