[Acetylation phenotype in patients with cancer of the bladder. Preliminary report]

In 23 patients affected by urinary bladder cancer and 22 healthy volunteers, acetylation phenotype was determined in urine, using the Eidus technique involving isoniazid. In the healthy group 10 (45.4%) slow acetylators and 9 (40.9%) fast acetylators were found. Of 23 patients with the bladder cancer 14 (60.9%) were slow acetylators, whereas 5 (21.7%) exhibited fast acetylation phenotype. The studies demonstrate that among the bladder-cancer-affected patients those with slow acetylation phenotype predominates. In those of the affected patients who had been exposed to chemical substances in the past, the percentage of slow acetylators was still higher (62.5%).