title: Glutathione S-transferase null genotypes in transitional cell bladder cancer: a case-control study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was conducted (1) to examine whether the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes are risk factors for bladder cancer, and (2) to study a possible association of these genotypes with disease severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  This case-control study was undertaken over a 21-month period and included 89 newly diagnosed transitional cell bladder cancer patients and 147 controls; both patients and controls originated from a defined population (residents of the loannina region, Northwestern Greece) and were similar with regard to mean age, male to female ratio and smoking habits. The GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes were identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction on peripheral blood DNA samples. Genotype frequencies among patients and controls were assessed and the association of the genotypes with tumor grade and stage at presentation were statistically evaluated by the chi(2) test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The GSTM1 null genotype was strongly associated with bladder cancer. The odds ratio, attributable and population attributable risks were estimated at 2.76, 0.64 and 0.40, respectively. The correlation between the GSTM1 null genotype with stage, although not statistically significant, was estimated at an odds ratio of 2.6 for invasive disease. The correlation of GSTM1 null genotype with tumor grade did not yield a statistically significant result. The GSTT1 null genotype was not statistically associated with bladder cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to our study, individuals with the GSTM1 null genotype carry a substantially higher risk for bladder carcinogenesis. The GSTM1 null genotype is not associated with more aggressive disease in terms of tumor grade, although there is a correlation between this genotype and stage of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical School of Ioannina University, Greece.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: I F
authors.initials: IF
authors.lastname: Filiadis
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Alamanos
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Bouba
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Giannakopoulos
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lolis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D005982:Glutathione Transferase; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1