[Immunohistologic and molecular genetic studies of the effect of glutathione-S-transferases on the development of squamous epithelial carcinomas in the area of the head-neck].
BACKGROUND
While cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption are the major risk factors for the development of head and neck carcinomas, it is assumed that genetic factors contribute to risk. The aim of this study was to characterize the influence of the carcinogen metabolizing glutathione-S-transferases on susceptibility to head and neck carcinomas.


METHODS
Polymorphisms at GSTM1, M3, T1 and P1 gene loci were determined in 398 head and neck cancer patients and 216 controls using polymerase chain reaction and restriction enzyme digestion. The epithelial distribution of the GSTs was determined by immunohistochemical methods.


RESULTS
The GSTM1 A/B genotype was less frequent in all tumor groups compared with controls. The GSTM3 B/B genotype was reduced only in the laryngeal cancer group whereas GSTP1 A/A showed significant differences between pharyngeal cancer patients and controls. Accordingly, GSTM3 was expressed only in the cilia of the laryngeal respiratory epithelium. In contrast, GSTP1 was distributed throughout all outer layers of the squamous cell epithelium.


CONCLUSIONS
While GSTM1 seems to influence susceptibility to all head and neck cancers, GSTM3 and P1 reflected site-specific differences. Thus GSTM3 appears to be associated with altered risk only to laryngeal cancer whereas GSTP1 is likely to influence pharyngeal cancer risk.
Matthias
C
C
HNO-Klinik und Poliklinik, Klinikum Charité der Humboldt Universität zu Berlin.
Jahnke
V
V
Hand
P
P
Fryer
A A
AA
Strange
R C
RC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D005838:Genotype; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000235:genetics; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010039:Otorhinolaryngologic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D007527:Isoenzymes; D005982:Glutathione Transferase
Immunhistochemische und molekulargenetische Untersuchungen zum Einfluss von Glutathion-S-Transferasen auf die Entwicklung von Plattenepithelkarzinomen im Kopf-Hals-Bereich.