title: GSTT1 and GSTM1 allelic polymorphisms in head and neck cancer patients from Italian Lazio Region.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Clinical Biochemistry-Catholic University, Rome, Italy. ecapoluongo@rm.unicatt.it
authors.forename: Ettore
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Capoluongo
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Almadori
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Concolino
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bussu
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Santonocito
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vendittelli
authors.forename: Jacopo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zuppi
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ameglio
authors.forename: Gaetano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Paludetti
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Giardina
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D005982:Glutathione Transferase; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1