Acetylation phenotype is not associated with breast cancer

In the present study, we have measured acetylation phenotype in 45 patients who had undergone surgical resection of a primary adenocarcinoma of the breast and in 48 patients or volunteer subjects with no breast disease. Phenotype was determined by measuring the ratio of N-acetylsulfamethazine to N-acetylsulfamethazine plus sulfamethazine in plasma 6 h after a p.o. dose of sulfamethazine. In the control group, there were 31 slow and 17 rapid acetylators, while in the breast patients, there were 25 slow and 20 rapid acetylators. The proportions of slow/rapid acetylators were not significantly different between the 2 groups (Pearson's chi 2 with Yates' correction = 0.45; P = 0.51). The data suggest that acetylation phenotype is not a useful risk prediction measurement in breast cancer.