The role of glutathione transferases M1 and T1 in individual susceptibility to bladder cancer in a Tunisian population.
BACKGROUND
Susceptibility to bladder cancer is thought to depend on interplay between genetic factors and environmental chemical carcinogens.


OBJECTIVE
This study seeks to determine the role of the glutathione transferases M1 and T1 null genotypes (GSTM1*0 and GSTT1*0) in individual susceptibility to bladder cancer in a Tunisian population.


METHODS
Sixty-two patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder cancer and 79 controls were examined with respect to the frequency of GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotypes.


RESULTS
The frequencies of the GSTT1 null in the total group of bladder cancer cases vs. controls did not differ statistically. The proportion of GSTM1 null genotype in patients was 63% compared to 45% in controls group (OR = 2.03; 95% CI 0.97-4.24; p = 0.04). A significantly higher incidence of GSTM1 deletion genotype was found in smokers with bladder cancer compared to the controls (65.38% vs. 45.5%). Smokers lacking the GSTM1 gene are at an approximately 2.2-fold higher risk of bladder cancer (OR= 2.23, 95% CI 1-5.15; p = 0.03).


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that in Tunisian subjects the GSTM1 null genotype may be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. This association appears to depend upon smoking status.
Ouerhani
Slah
S
Laboratoire de Génétique Moléculaire Immunologie et Biotechnologie Faculté des Sciences De Tunis, Tunisia. slah_mekni@yahoo.fr
Tebourski
Fethi
F
Slama
Mohamed Riadh Ben
MR
Marrakchi
Raja
R
Rabeh
Mariam
M
Hassine
Lotfi Ben
LB
Ayed
Mohsen
M
Elgaaïed
Amel Ben Ammar
AB
D000368:Aged; D002295:Carcinoma, Transitional Cell / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012306:Risk; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D001749:Urinary Bladder Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
D005982:Glutathione Transferase; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1