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The DRD2 TaqI-B polymorphism and its relationship to smoking abstinence and withdrawal symptoms

The Pharmacogenomics Journal volume 7, pages 266–274 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

The dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) gene has polymorphisms that have been linked to regulation of the dopamine system and to an increased prevalence of smoking. The present study examined the relationship of the DRD2 TaqI-A and -B polymorphisms with short-term clinical outcome (abstinence and withdrawal symptoms), collected from daily (14 pre-quit and 42 post-quit) diary data among smokers (n=116) treated with the nicotine patch plus either venlafaxine or placebo. The results showed that B1/B1 or B1/B2 smokers were slightly less likely to be abstinent on a given day than those homozygous for the TaqI-B2 allele. Significant DRD2 TaqI-B × time interactions were found for several of the withdrawal scales, indicating that those smokers with the B1/B1 or B1/B2 genotypes tended to report more symptoms over time compared to those with the B2/B2 genotype. No interactions or main effects were found for the DRD2 TaqI-A polymorphism. The findings demonstrate that smokers homozygous for the TaqI-B2 allele experience progressive improvement in self-reported withdrawal symptoms while smokers with the TaqI-B1 allele showing little change.

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Acknowledgements

Support for this research was provided by grants from the MD Anderson Cancer Center (PRS), the National Cancer Institute (SPORE P50CA70907), and the National Institute on Drug Abuse (R01DA1182-01) to Paul M Cinciripini and MD Anderson Education Program in Cancer Prevention Postdoctoral Fellowship Grants (R25 CA57730) to Jason D Robinson, Cho Y Lam and Jennifer A Minnix. Study medication and nicotine patches were provided by Wyeth-Ayerst Laboratories. Portions of this research were presented at the annual meeting of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco, Orlando, Florida, February 2006.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Behavioral Science, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    J D Robinson, C Y Lam, J A Minnix & P M Cinciripini

  2. Department of Health Disparities Research, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    D W Wetter

  3. Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Division, The Harold C Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA

    G E Tomlinson

  4. Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research, The Harold C Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Dallas, TX, USA

    J D Minna & T T-L Chen

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  1. J D Robinson
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Correspondence to J D Robinson.

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Robinson, J., Lam, C., Minnix, J. et al. The DRD2 TaqI-B polymorphism and its relationship to smoking abstinence and withdrawal symptoms. Pharmacogenomics J 7, 266–274 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.tpj.6500427

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