Despite convincing evidence from animal experiments, epidemiological studies linking the use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) with lower risk of breast and prostate cancer have been equivocal. One explanation for the inconsistencies among epidemiological studies may relate to individual differences in NSAID metabolism due to genetic polymorphisms in enzymes such as N -acetyltransferases and cytochrome P4502C9, which are known to be involved in the metabolic biotransformation of NSAIDs. The exclusion of these molecular biomarkers of individual susceptibility may have contributed to the inconsistent findings on the effects of NSAIDs in breast and prostate cancer.
Copyright 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.