Metabolic Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Cancer

The study of interactions between genes and environmental exposures ha s expanded considerably in recent years. Highly penetrant genes that a re involved in familial cancer have been identified, but are likely to account for a relatively small proportion of total cancers. Other pre disposing genes have low penetrance, resulting in a moderate increase in the risk of specific cancers, but are widespread in the general pop ulation. This is the case for so-called metabolic polymorphisms. Scien tific interest in metabolic polymorphisms is based on the possibility of identifying subgroups of the population which are at elevated risk of developing environmentally-induced cancer. However, such studies ra ise a series of problems that are methodological - related to the stud y design and analysis - and ethical - related to the practical use tha t can be made of genetic information. This volume deals thoroughly wit h such problems.