title: GST null genotype and antioxidants: risk indicators for oral pre-cancer and cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was undertaken to detect the gene polymorphism of detoxification enzymes and estimate the antioxidant enzyme status in patients with oral cancer, oral leukoplakia and oral submucous fibrosis (OSF).
  
  
  METHODS
  The GSTM1 and GSTT1 gene polymorphism was evaluated using polymerase chain reaction; the antioxidant enzyme was estimated using biochemical methods. Statistical analyses were performed using student t-test and odds-ratio to estimate relative risk (RR).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The RR at 95% confidence interval (CI) for GSTM1 and GSTT1 was statistically significant for all groups. The mean values of glutathione were significantly raised in all groups. The mean values of ceruloplasmin and malonaldehyde was statistically significant among cancer and OSF patients but was insignificant in smokers and cases with leukoplakia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several genes perform the same function which implies the need to test for several genetic polymorphisms to identify individuals at high risk. The level of antioxidant enzymes correlate with the degree of oxidative damage. The need for further studies is emphasised.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Medicine and Radiology, SDM College of Dental Sciences and Hospital, Dharwad, India.
authors.forename: Renuka J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bathi
authors.forename: Reema
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Sunil
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mutalik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002570:Ceruloplasmin / Q000378:metabolism; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D007971:Leukoplakia / Q000235:genetics*; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000378:metabolism; D016555:Matched-Pair Analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000235:genetics*; D012016:Reference Values; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D002570:Ceruloplasmin; D005978:Glutathione; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D008315:Malondialdehyde; C413545:glutathione S-transferase T1