Abstract. The human multidrug resistance gene 1 (MDR-1) encodes a plasma membrane P-glycoprotein (P-gp) that functions as the transmembrane efflux pump for various structurally unrelated anticancer agents and toxins. Polymorphisms in the MDR-1 gene may have an impact on the expression and function of P-gp, thereby influencing the susceptibility to various diseases, including cancer. We investigated the incidence of C3435T polymorphisms at exon 26 in the MDR-1 gene in 92 women with breast cancer and potential association of altered genotypes with smoking and high body mass index in cancer development among patients. The MDR-1 C3435T allelotype and genotype analysis revealed a high incidence (75.0%) of polymorph alteration in the MDR-1 gene. The frequencies of homozygous T/T, heterozygous C/T and homozygous C/C genotypes were 25.0, 50.0 and 25.0%, respectively. The risk of breast carcinoma in patients with MDR-1 polymorphism was significantly associated with the higher body mass index, where women with BMI >30 kg/m 2 and C allele in genotype had a higher risk of disease compared to patients with lower amounts of body fat tissue (p=0.0439). The risk was highest for the homozygous carriers of C allele with BMI >30 kg/m 2 compared to patients with BMI 25.1-30 or ≤25 kg/m 2 (OR 3.65, 95% CI 0.94-14.20; or OR 2.50, 95% CI 0.55-11.41), respectively. Consistent with the results of genotyping and BMI analyses, smoking patients harboring the C/T or C/C genotype had an increased risk of cancer (OR 1.28, OR 1.58,, respectively) when exposed to carcinogens in tobacco smoke, although it was not statistically significant. Our findings suggest that the MDR-1 C3435T polymorphism occurs in high incidence among women with breast carcinoma where C allele carriers have increased risk of developing cancer when exposed to toxic substances. Our observations are the first that indicate this polymorphism as a modulator of health to be associated with an increased risk of breast cancer.