Association of ADH1B and ALDH2 genotypes with the risk of lung adenocarcinoma

Objective The incidence of lung adenocarcinoma (LAD) is increasing worldwide. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 family member gene (ALDH2) rs671 and alcohol dehydrogenase 1B (ADH1B) rs1229984 are common and functionally important genetic variants to metabolize endogenous and exogenous aldehyde chemicals, related to cancer. Methods This is a case-control study. A total of 150 newly diagnosed LAD patients were from Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan, between 2019 and 2022. Two control groups, TWB-1 (n = 600) and TWB-2 (n = 29 683), were selected from Taiwan Biobank (TWB), and the case patients were frequency-matched with TWB-1 based on age category (30-60 or >60 years old), sex, and education levels. Logistic regression models were employed to analyze the association between two genetic variants and LAD risk. Results A significant association was noted between ALDH2 and LAD risk. Those with ALDH2 rs671 ∗2/∗2 in TWB-1 and TWB-2 controls had a 2.68-fold (95% CI = 1.43-4.99) and a 1.83-fold (95% CI = 1.07-3.11) increased risk of LAD, respectively, compared with those with ALDH2 rs671 ∗1/∗1 or ∗1/∗2, after adjusting for covariates. This association was particularly pronounced in females. No overall significant association between ADH1B rs1229984 and LAD risk was observed. Conclusion The findings indicate a strong and robust risk association between ALDH2 rs671∗2/∗2 and LAD in the Taiwan population, particularly in Taiwanese female adults.