Original Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2001. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Aug 15, 2001; 7(4): 506-509
Published online Aug 15, 2001. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v7.i4.506
Glutathione S-transferases M1, T1 genotypes and the risk of gastric cancer: A case-control study
Lin Cai, Shun-Zhang Yu, Zuo-Feng Zhang
Lin Cai, Department of Epidemiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, Fujian Province, China
Shun-Zhang Yu, Department of Epidemiology, Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200032, China
Zuo-Feng Zhang, Department of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health, Los Angeles California, USA
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, China, No. C001009
Correspondence to: Lin Cai, Department of Epidemiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350004, Fujian Province, China. zjcailin@pub5.fz.fj.cn
Telephone: 0086-591-3569264
Received: March 19, 2001
Revised: April 5, 2001
Accepted: April 12, 2001
Published online: August 15, 2001
Abstract

AIM: Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are involved in the detoxification of many potential carcinogens and appear to play a critical role in the protection from the effects of carcinogens. The contribution of glutathione S-transferases M1 and T1 genotypes to susceptibility to the risk of gastric cancer and their interaction with cigarette smoking are still unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether there was any relationship between genetic polymorphisms of GSTM1 and GSTT1 and gastric cancer.

METHODS: A population based case-control study was carried out in a high-risk area, Changle County, Fujian Province, China. The epidemiological data were collected by a standard questionnaire and blood samples were obtained from 95 incidence gastric cancer cases and 94 healthy controls. A polymerase chain reaction method was used to detect the presence or absence of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in genomic DNA. Logistic regression model was employed in the data analysis.

RESULTS: An increase in risk for gastric cancer was found among carriers of GSTM1 null genotype. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 2.63 [95% Confidence Interval (95%CI) 1.17-5.88], after controlling for age, gender, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, and fish sauce intake. The frequency of GSTT1 null genotype in cancer cases (43.16%) was not significantly different from that in controls (50.00%). However, the risk for gastric cancer in those with GSTM1 null and GSTT1 non-null genotype was significantly higher than in those with both GSTM1 and GSTT1 non-null genotype (OR = 2.77, 95%CI 1.15-6.77). Compared with those subjects who never smoked and had normal GSTM1 genotype, ORs were 1.60 (95%CI: 0.62-4.19) for never smokers with GSTM1 null type, 2.33 (95%CI 0.88-6.28) for smokers with normal GSTM1, and 8.06 (95%CI 2.83-23.67) for smokers with GSTM1 null type.

CONCLUSIONS: GSTM1 gene polymorphisms may be associated with genetic susceptibility of stomach cancer and may modulate tobacco-related carcinogenesis of gastric cancer.

Keywords: glutathione transferase/genetics; genotype; polymorphism (genetics); stomach neoplasm/genetics; case control studies