GSTM1 gene polymorphism as a possible marker for susceptibility to head and neck cancers among Japanese smokers

Increased risk of lung cancer has been reported in individuals with glutathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) gene deletion, with limited evidence for head and neck (HN) cancer. Here, we report the results of a case-control study in Japanese HN cancer patients (n = 158) and community controls (n = 174). GSTM1 null genotype (GSTM1(-)) was distributed more in smoker patients than in control subjects (56.7% vs. 48.5%) but not in non-smoker patients (48.3%). In smokers, GSTM1(-) was detected at increased frequency in non-larynx cancer (62.7%, odds ratio 1.77, 95% CI 1.04-3.01) but not in larynx cancer (48.1%). In larynx cancer GSTM1(-) was presented at higher frequency in patients <60 years old than in those greater than or equal to 60 years old (78.6% vs. 36.8%). These findings suggest that the GSTM1 gene polymorphism potentially modifies the risk for HN cancer depending on smoking history, the region of cancer and age. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.