GSTT1 and GSTM1 allelic polymorphisms in head and neck cancer patients from Italian Lazio Region.
BACKGROUND
The association between head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and allelic variants of glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and -T1 (GSTT1) is currently controversial. The present study investigates the prevalences of GSTT1 and GSTM1 polymorphism in a cohort of 100 head and neck cancer patients, 100 healthy donors and 200 controls with non-neoplastic head and neck diseases from Italian Lazio Region.


METHODS
The patients with benign head and neck pathologies, as well as the healthy donors were matched for age, sex, cigarette smoke (yes/no) and alcohol consumption (yes/no). Molecular definition of GSTT1 and GSTM1 genotype has been performed by means of allele-specific PCR technique.


RESULTS
A significant association between head and neck cancer and GSTM1 null genotype was observed both considering benign disease controls (p=0.001, OR=2.613; 95% C.I.=1.48-4.62), and healthy donors (p=0.0003, OR=3.35; 95% C.I. 1.69-6.67) while no significant association was found with GSTT1 null genotype (p>or=0.14). No interactive association was observed when combining the different genotypes of the two polymorphisms. These results were confirmed after correction for daily number of cigarettes and period of tobacco exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study confirms a role for genetic alterations of GSTM1 detoxifying enzyme as a risk factor for the development of HNSCC in patients from the Italian Lazio Region, independently of age, sex and other confounding variables.
Capoluongo
Ettore
E
Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry-Catholic University, Rome, Italy. ecapoluongo@rm.unicatt.it
Almadori
Giovanni
G
Concolino
Paola
P
Bussu
Francesco
F
Santonocito
Concetta
C
Vendittelli
Francesca
F
Galli
Jacopo
J
Zuppi
Cecilia
C
Ameglio
Franco
F
Paludetti
Gaetano
G
Giardina
Bruno
B
D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D005982:Glutathione Transferase; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1