Glutathione S-transferase genotypes and cancer risk

Over 500 studies have examined the association of genetic variants of glutathione S-transferases with various malignancies yielding inconsistent results. The genotyping was based on PCR assays that identified the GSTM1 and GSTT1 null (-/-) genotypes but did not distinguish homozygous wild-type +/+ and heterozygous +/- individuals. Complete GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotyping can be accomplished by recently developed assays [Cancer Res. 64 (2004) 1233-1236; Pharmacogenetics 10 (2000) 557-565] that allow the definition of +/+, +/-, and -/- genotypes by separate identification of the respective GSTM1 and GSTT1 wild-type and null alleles. Application of the new GSTM1 assay to a breast cancer case-control study revealed that the relative risk of breast cancer for the +/+ genotype compared to the -/- genotype was 2.83 (95% confidence interval 1.45-5.59; P = 0.002), suggesting a protective effect of the GSTM1 deletion [Cancer Res. 64 (2004) 1233-1236]. Regardless of the explanation for the association between the +/+ genotype and increased breast cancer risk, these results warrant application of true GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotyping to additional or previously analyzed groups with breast cancer or other malignancies. (c) 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.