title: Polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase mu 1 and theta 1 genes and hepatocellular carcinoma in southern Guangxi, China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1) and theta 1 (GSTT1) genes are involved in the metabolism of a wide range of carcinogens, but deletions of the genes are commonly found in the population. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the association between GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk.
  
  
  METHODS
  The genetic polymorphisms were studied at an aflatoxin highly contaminated region in Guangxi, China. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique was used to detect the presence or absence of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in blood samples. The case group was composed of 181 patients of HCC identified by the pathologists and the control group was composed of 360 adults without any tumor.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes in the control were 47.8% and 42.7%, while those in the HCC group were 64.6% and 59.7%, respectively. The differences between HCC group and control group were very significant (P<0.01). GSTM1 and GSTT1 combined null genotypes in HCC group and control group were 38.2% and 18.5% respectively, and the difference was significant (P<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes are associated with an increased risk of HCC in a special geographic environment. Combination of the two null genotypes in an individual is substantially increased twice the risk of HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 530021, Guangxi Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. zhuolindeng@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Zhuo-Lin
authors.initials: ZL
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Yi-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.forename: Yun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D002681:China; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005784:Gene Amplification; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D005982:Glutathione Transferase; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1