[Frequent genetic deletion of detoxifying enzyme GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients in Guangxi Province, China].
OBJECTIVE
To study the genetic susceptibility to chemical carcinogens of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) patients in a high-risk area in Guangxi.


METHODS
PCR technique was used to examine the frequency of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 gene deletion in a matched case-control study of 91 patients with NPC and 135 control subjects.


RESULTS
The deletion frequency of control subjects was 47.4% (65/135) for GSTM1 and 40.7% (55/135) for GSTT1, whereas that of NPC patients was 61.5% (56/91) for GSTM1 and 59.3% (54/91) for GSTT1 with statistically significant difference between the patients and the controls (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01). Furthermore, the frequency of codeletion of both genes was also higher in NPC patients than the control with statistically significant difference (chi2 = 12.533, P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
In high-risk area, nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and local residents have high frequency of GSTM1 and/or GSTT1 gene deletion. It suggests that a genetic susceptibility to putative chemical carcinogens may be responsible for NPC clustering in the high-risk area studied.
Deng
Zhuo-lin
ZL
Department of Pathology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, China. zhuolindeng@hotmail.com
Wei
Yi-ping
YP
Ma
Yun
Y
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D017353:Gene Deletion; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009303:Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics
D005982:Glutathione Transferase; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1