Can't lung cancer patients detoxify procarcinogens?
BACKGROUND
Glutathione S-transferase mu (GST mu) enzyme detoxifies carcinogens in tobacco smoke. We assessed the clinical usefulness of serum assay of GSTm in determining the risk for lung cancer.


METHODS
Fifty-nine patients with primary lung cancer and 32 control cases were enrolled. GSTm detection was performed by the method ELISA.


RESULTS
GSTm enzyme positivity rate of the patient group (39%) was significantly lower than the control group (59.4%) (p < 0.05). The GSTm positivity rates were 28.6% for the non-smoker patients with a cancer history of relatives, 31.6% for the smoker patients with the cancer history of relatives, 14.6% for the non-smoker patients with the lung cancer history of relatives and 16.7% for the smoker patients with the lung cancer history of relatives.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that if the people lacking GSTm are smokers and have a cancer and/or lung cancer history among their relatives, they would challenge a greater risk of lung cancer than the individuals having GST mu isoenzyme.
Cerrahoglu
K
K
GATA Camlica Chest Diseases Hospital, Department of Respiratory Diseases, Istanbul, Turkey.
Kunter
E
E
Isitmangil
T
T
Oztosun
A I M
AI
Isitmangil
G
G
Okutan
O
O
Bozkanat
E
E
Aydilek
R
R
Bener
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D002283:Carcinoma, Bronchogenic / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008658:Inactivation, Metabolic / Q000235:genetics; D007527:Isoenzymes / Q000097:blood / Q000172:deficiency / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011355:Prodrugs / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
D002273:Carcinogens; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D007527:Isoenzymes; D011355:Prodrugs