NQO1蛋白在家族聚集性肝癌中的表达及临床意义

目的 研究NQO1蛋白在家族聚集性肝癌中的表达以及探讨其与临床病理关系.方法 运用免疫组化SP法检测41例非家族聚集性肝癌组织(非家族癌组)及其癌旁组织、34例家族聚集性肝癌组织(家族癌组)及其癌旁组织、32例良性病肝组织NQO1蛋白表达的情况.并分析NQO1蛋白表达与肝癌临床病理因素间的关系.结果 NQO1蛋白在肝癌组织以及正常肝组织中均有表达,家族癌组以及非家族癌组中肝癌组织NQO1蛋白表达均低于正常组(P＜0.05).家族癌组该蛋白表达比非家族癌组更低(P＜0.05).家族癌组中肝癌组织NQO1蛋白表达明显低于癌旁组织(P＜0.05).非家族癌组中肝癌组织NQO1蛋白表达也明显低于癌旁组织(P＜0.05).家族癌组、非家族癌组癌旁组织的NQO1蛋白表达均低于正常肝组织(P＜0.05).家族癌组比非家族癌组中癌旁组织的NQO1蛋白表达更低(P＜0.05).家族聚集性肝癌中NQO1蛋白表达与年龄、性别、HBsAg和病理分级无关,而与AFP定量、肿瘤大小以及家族中患癌个体数有关.结论 NQO1蛋白表达的差异可能在家族聚集性肝癌的发生或发展中起一定作用,这对家族聚集性肝癌的预防、早期诊断和早期治疗有极其重要的临床价值.     

人醛氧化酶蛋白在肝癌中的表达及其临床意义

目的:探讨人醛氧化酶(human aldehyde oxidase, hAOX)蛋白在肝癌细胞系、肝癌组织、癌旁肝组织、肝硬化及正常肝组织中的表达及其临床意义.方法:采用Western印迹法和免疫组织化学法检测hAOX蛋白在7个肝癌细胞系、2个永生化肝细胞系、10例正常肝、12例肝硬化、57例肝癌及癌旁肝组织中的表达差异,分析其表达差异的临床意义.结果:Western印迹法检测结果表明,hAOX蛋白在MHCC-LM3、Hep3B、Huh-7和BEL-7402肝癌细胞系以及人永生化肝细胞系L-02和Chang's liver等6个细胞系中均有较高表达,在MHCC- 97L、 HepG2和SMMC-7721细胞中则为低表达.免疫组织化学检测发现,hAOX在正常肝、肝硬化组织和癌旁肝组织中高表达,在癌旁肝组织中的表达较匹配肝癌组织的高(P<0.001).Western印迹法检测结果提示癌旁肝组织中hAOX表达明显高于肝癌组织.hAOX表达与肝癌患者性别、年龄、血清甲胎蛋白(alpha-fetoprotein,AFP)水平、乙肝表面抗原、肿瘤大小、病理学分级以及是否伴有肝硬化均无相关性(P>0.05),而与肿瘤血管侵犯和肿瘤生长方式有一定的相关性(P=0.053, P=0.011).结论:hAOX在正常肝、肝硬化、癌旁肝组织中高表达,而在肝癌组织中表达明显降低,其表达可能会影响肝癌的血管侵犯和肿瘤生长方式.     

肝癌及相关组织中NET-1基因与蛋白的表达

背景与目的:NET-1是最近发现的肿瘤相关基因,它在肝癌中的表达目前尚未见报道。本研究在胚胎肝、成人肝、肝癌及相应的癌旁组织中筛检和比较NET-1基因和蛋白表达,以探讨NET-1基因在肝癌表达的特征。方法:用逆转录聚合酶链反应(RT-PCR)分别检测3例胚胎肝、4例成人肝、4例验证肝癌组织和28例肝癌与相应癌旁组织中NET-1mRNA的表达,由四星图像分析系统软件检测NET-1基因mRNA的光密度。用基因生物工程方法制备NET-1多克隆抗体,并用激光共聚焦显微镜观察免疫荧光细胞化学检测培养的人肝癌细胞系SMMC-7721中NET-1抗体的表达,免疫组化法检测28例肝癌与癌旁组织中NET-1蛋白的表达。结果:(1)正常成人和胎儿肝组织中NET-1基因mRNA不表达,4例验证肝癌组织中NET-1基因mRNA均呈阳性表达;肝癌与癌旁组织中NET-1基因mRNA高表达,阳性率均为85.71%(24/28)。肝癌组织中NET-1mRNA的平均光密度显著高于癌旁组织(0.64与0.47,P<0.05)。(2)经激光共聚焦显微镜观察SMMC-7721细胞中NET-1抗体的表达定位于胞浆。(3)免疫组化检测NET-1多克隆抗体在同组肝癌和癌旁组织中NET-1蛋白检出率分别为96.43%(27/28)和71.43%(20/28),两者差异具有显著性意义(P<0.05)。(4)RT-PCR方法和免疫组化方法检测肝癌和癌旁组织中NET-1基因mRNA表达与蛋白表达两者之间阳性率无显著性差异,并呈显著性正相关(癌中r=0.48,癌旁r=0.40,均P<0.05)。结论:NET-1基因表达可能是肝癌发生的早期分子事件,该基因在肝癌诊断中可能有一定的参考价值。     

食管癌相关基因4(ECRG4)在肝细胞肝癌组织中表达及临床意义

目的 分析ECRG4基因在肝细胞肝癌组织(HCC)中的表达与甲基化情况,并探讨其临床意义.方法 分别采用免疫组化法、MSP-PCR两种方法,检测50例肝癌组织、对应癌旁组织及31例正常肝组织中的ECRG4蛋白的表达和ECRG4启动子区甲基化情况,并探讨两者之间的相关性.结果 ECRG4蛋白在肝癌组织、癌旁肝组织中表达水平显著低于正常肝组织(P<0.05),在肝癌组织中表达水平显著低于癌旁肝组织(P<0.05);且ECRG4肝癌组织的甲基化检出率明显高于癌旁肝组织及正常肝组织(P<0.05).ECRG4蛋白低表达率与ECRG4甲基化检出率明显相关(P均<0.05).结论 ECRG4在HCC组织中表达下调与其启动子区高甲基化存在明显的关联性,在肝癌的发生中发挥重要作用.     

肝细胞癌组织PTEN和Cyclin D1及C-myc表达的临床病理意义

目的:研究PTEN、Cyclin D1及C-myc蛋白在肝癌组织中的表达及其临床病理意义.方法:采用EnVisionTM plus免疫组织化学方法研究PTEN、Cyclin D1及C-myc蛋白在52例原发性肝细胞癌(HCC)及癌旁肝组织中的表达情况.结果: 52例HCC中PTEN、Cyclin D1和C-myc 蛋白染色阳性率分别为42.31%、48.08%和53.84%,癌旁肝组织的阳性率分别为92.31%、25.00%和32.69%,Cyclin D1及C-myc在HCC中的表达明显高于癌旁肝组织(χ2=5.971,P=0.015;χ2=4.740,P=0.029),而PTEN在HCC中的表达明显低于癌旁组织(χ2=29.539, P=0.000). 在HCC中PTEN的阳性表达与Cyclin D1、C-myc的阳性表达呈负相关(r=-0.363 1,P=0.019 7;r=-0.369 7,P=0.017 2);PTEN、Cyclin D1和C-myc在人肝癌组织中的检出率与肝外转移、术后复发及肿瘤分化程度明显有关(P<0.05),Cyclin D1、PTEN的检出率与门静脉癌栓也明显有关(P<0.05).结论:PTEN蛋白低表达、Cyclin D1及C-myc 蛋白的过表达可促使肝癌细胞增殖,使肝癌细胞具有更强的侵袭力,与肝癌的发生发展密切相关.     

凋亡抑制基因 Survivin在肝癌细胞中的表达及其与PTEN、cyclin D1蛋白表达的关系

目的:探讨Survivin基因的表达在肝癌发生、发展中的作用及其与PTEN、cyclin D1蛋白表达的相互关系.方法:采用流式细胞术对肝细胞癌(48例)、癌旁肝硬化(32例)、肝硬化(6例)、正常肝组织(6例)Survivin、PTEN、cyclin D1基因蛋白的表达进行定量检测.结果:Survivin和cyclin D1蛋白表达的FI值明显高于癌旁组织、肝硬化和正常肝组织,而肝细胞癌的PTEN蛋白的FI值明显低于癌旁组织、肝硬化和正常肝组织.Survivin和PTEN蛋白的表达量与分化程度、预后有关,与肿瘤大小、门静脉癌栓、肝内转移无关.随着肿瘤恶性程度加重,Survivin与PTEN蛋白表达呈显著负相关;Survivin蛋白与cyclin D1蛋白表达之间呈显著正相关.结论:Survivin、PTEN及cyclin D1基因在肝细胞癌的发生、发展中起着不同的作用,联合检测Survivin和PTEN对判定肝细胞癌预后可提供一定的依据.     

VEGF-B及其受体Flt-1在肝癌中的表达及意义

目的:探讨血管内皮生长因子B(vascular endothelial growth factor B,VEGF-B)及其受体Flt-1在肝癌中的表达及其与肝癌临床病理特征及预后的关系.方法:利用免疫组织化学染色法检测55例肝癌组织、33例癌旁肝组织及15例正常肝组织中VEGF-B及Flt-1蛋白的表达情况,结合临床病理特征及预后对其进行统计学分析.结果:VEGF-B及Flt-1在肝癌组织中的表达率显著高于癌旁肝组织和正常肝组织中的表达率(P＜0.05);有胆管或门静脉瘤栓形成的癌组织的VEGF-B及Flt-1的表达率显著高于无胆管或门静脉瘤栓形成组的表达率(P＜0.05);VEGF-B及Flt-1的表达呈高度一致性(P＜0.05);VEGF-B阳性组和Flt-1阳性组患者的1年、2年累积生存率均显著低于阴性组(P＜0.05).结论:VEGF-B及其受体Flt-1与肝癌的生物学行为密切相关,并可作为肝癌患者预后的预测因素.     

β-Catenin,cyclinD1及c-myc在肝细胞癌中的表达

目的探讨β-Catenin、cyclinD1及c-myc蛋白的表达与肝癌临床病理参数的关系。方法采用EnVisionTMplus免疫组织化学方法研究β-Catenin、cyclinD1及c-myc蛋白在52例HCC及癌旁肝组织中的表达情况。结果52例HCC中β-Catenin、cyclinD1及c-myc蛋白染色阳性率分别为55.8%、48.1%及53.8%,癌旁肝组织的阳性率为36.5%、25.0%及32.7%,β-Catenin、cyclinD1及c-myc在HCC及癌旁肝组织两者间有显着性差异(P<0.05)。在HCC中β-Catenin的阳性表达与cyclinD1、c-myc的阳性表达密切相关(P=0.0108,r=0.3920;P=0.0295,r=0.3406)且呈正相关;β-Catenin、cyclinD1及c-myc在人肝癌组织中的检出率与肝外转移、术后复发及肿瘤分化程度明显有关(P<0.05),cyclinD1的检出率与门静脉癌栓也明显有关(P<0.05),β-Catenin的检出率与临床分期和门静脉癌栓也有显著性差异(P<0.05)。结论β-Catenin、cyclinD1及c-myc蛋白...     

谷胱甘肽S-转移酶A1在肝癌中的异常表达

目的探讨GSTA1基因在肝癌形成中的作用。方法应用RT-PCR方法检测35例AFB1诱发的树鼩肝癌、癌旁和癌前组织,以及35例人肝癌和癌组织中的GSTA1mRNA表达情况;应用免疫组化方法检测以上组织的GSTA1蛋白表达情况。结果树鼩肝癌组织的GSTA1mRNA和蛋白表达水平均低于癌旁及癌前组织;人肝癌组织的GSTA1mRNA表达水平、蛋白阳性表达率和表达综合得分均显著低于癌旁组织(分别为P<0.001、P<0.05和P<0.001)。结论GSTA1可能是肝癌发生发展的重要相关基因之一;在mRNA水平和蛋白质水平动态观察相关基因在肝癌形成过程中的表达变化有助于阐释肝癌发生的分子机制。     

ERK-1与Cyclin D1在肝细胞肝癌组织中的表达

 目的 探讨ERK-1与Cyclin D1在肝细胞肝癌组织中表达的临床意义、相关性及对预后的影响。 方法 应用免疫组织化学方法检测50例肝细胞肝癌组织、17例癌旁硬化肝组织及14例正常肝组织ERK-1与Cyclin D1的表达。 结果 1.ERK-1与Cyclin D1在肝细胞肝癌组织中的表达显著高于癌旁硬化肝组织和正常肝组织;2.ERK-1表达与临床分期、病理分级、年龄、肿瘤大小、癌栓等明显相关;3.Cyclin D1的表达与病理分级有关;4.ERK-1与Cyclin D1表达-~+者平均生存时间较短,生存率较低,预后较差;ERK-1与Cyclin D1表达++~+++者平均生存时间较长,生存率较高,预后较好;5.在肝细胞肝癌组织中ERK-1与Cyclin D1的表达呈正相关。 结论 ERK-1、Cyclin D1的表达水平的升高在肝癌的发生发展中发挥协同、促进的作用,监测它们的表达能为肝癌早期诊断及评价肝癌患者的预后提供帮助。     

DNA切除修复交叉互补基因1、乳腺癌易感基因、核苷酸还原酶1与非小细胞肺癌

 阐述了近年来非小细胞肺癌（NSCLC）化疗敏感性与DNA 切除修复交叉互补基因1 （ERCC1）、乳腺癌易感基因（BRCA1）、核苷酸还原酶1（RRM1）基因表达关系的研究进展，分析3个基因对NSCLC个体化化疗潜在的指导意义     

CYP1A1和GSTM1基因多态性与内蒙古人群肺癌易感性的关系

背景与目的 肺癌是严重危害人类健康的恶性肿瘤之一，其发病与肺癌人群中某些肺癌相关基因的遗传多态性有关。本研究旨在探讨细胞色素P4501A1（CYP1A1）基因多态性和谷胱甘肽硫转移酶M1（GSTM1）基因多态性与内蒙古人群肺癌易感性的关系。方法 用PCR-RFLP技术分析了原发性肺癌组和住院对照组（各163例）的CYP1A1、GSTM1基因的多态性、基因型分布频率和交互作用。结果 CYP1A1突变型和GSTM1基因缺陷型EGSTM1（-）]频率分布分别为36．8％、65．0％（病例组）和19．0％、48．9％（对照组），二者经χ^2检验差异有显著性（χ^2=12．82，P=0．000；χ^2=9．78，P=0．002）。CYP1A1突变型患肺癌的风险显著增加（OR=2．48，95％CI为1．51～4．08）。GSTM1（-）者患肺癌的风险也显著增加（OR=2．03，95％CI为1．30～3．17）。基因突变的协同分析发现CYP1A1突变型／GSTM1（-）在肺癌组和对照组中的分布频率分别为28．8％和8．0％，二者经χ^2检验有显著性差异（χ^2=23．883，P=0．000）。CYP1A1突变型／GSTM1（-）患肺癌的风险显著增加（OR=4．90，95％CI为2．50～9．83）。无论是在肺癌组还是在对照组，CYP1A1突变型／GSTM1（-）和CYP1A1非突变型／GSTM1（-）在性别间分布频率的差异均无显著性（肺癌组χ^2=0．797，P=0．372；对照组χ^2=0．670，P=0．761）。吸烟与肺癌易感性的统计学分析，结果显示吸烟与肺癌易感性有关（χ^2=14．197，P=0．000），吸烟者患肺癌的风险显著增加（OR=2．33，95％CI为1.50～3．62）。CYP1A1突变型与吸烟关系的协同分析发现，携带CYP1A1突变型基因的吸烟者较携带CYP1A1突变型基因不吸烟者易患肺癌（OR=4．44，95％CI为2．40～8．32，χ^2=23．843，P=0．000）。GSTM1（-）与吸烟关系的协同分析中也发现，携带GSTM1（-）的吸烟者患肺癌的风险显著增加（OR=7．32，95％CI为3．39～15．50，χ^2=36．708，P=0．000）。结论 CYP1A1突变型和GSTM1（-）是内蒙古地区肺癌的易患因素，二者对肺癌的发生有协同作用，吸烟与肺癌的易感性也有关，CYP1A1突变型、GSTM1（-）与吸烟在肺癌的发生上也有相互促进作用。     

CYP1A1、GSTM1基因多态性及其联合作用与食管癌的易感性

目的探讨CYP1A1、GSTM1基因多态性及其联合作用与新疆汉族人食管癌易感性的关系。方法采用聚合酶链式反应-连接酶检测反应分析方法检测107例食管癌患者和204例非食管癌患者的CYP1A1(rs1048943、rs4646421和rs4646903)和GSTM1(缺失型和rs2071487)的基因型。结果CYP1A1基因rs1048943位点的等位基因和基因型频率在病例组和对照组之间比较,总体分布差异有统计学意义(χ² =5.52,P=0.019)。与A/A基因型相比,GG+AG基因型可增加食管癌的发病风险(OR=1.79,OR95%CI:1.10~2.92);GSTM1基因缺失型和非缺失型在病例组和对照组中的分布频率分别为68.69%、31.31%和48.39%、51.61%,在两组间的分布差异有统计学意义(χ²=10.55,P=0.001;OR=2.34,OR95%CI:1.40~3.91)。结论CYP1A1基因rs1048943位点多态性和GSTM1基因缺失型与新疆地区汉族人食管癌易感性有相关性。     

CYP1A1 (Ile462Val), CYP1B1 (Ala119Ser and Val432Leu), GSTM1 (null), and GSTT1 (null) Polymorphisms and Bladder Cancer Risk in a Turkish Population

We aimed to investigate bladder cancer risk with reference to polymorphic variants of cytochrome p450 (CYP)1A1, CYP1B1, glutathione S-transferase (GST) M1, and GSTT1 genes in a case control study. Polymorphismswere examined in 114 bladder cancer patients and 114 age and sex-matched cancer-free subjects. Genotypes weredetermined using allele specific PCR for CYP1A1 and CYP1B1 genes, and by multiplex PCR and melting curveanalysis for GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes. Our results revealed a statistically significant increased bladder cancerrisk for GSTT1 null genotype carriers with an odds ratio of 3.06 (95% confidence interval=1.39-6.74, p=0.006).Differences of CYP1A1, CYP1B1 and GSTM1 genotype frequencies were not statistically significant betweenpatients and controls. However, the specific combination of GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null, and CYP1B1 codon 119risk allele carriers and specific combination of GSTM1 present, GSTT1 null, and CYP1B1 432 risk allele carriersexhibited increased cancer risk in the combined analysis. We did not observe any association between differentgenotype groups and prognostic tumor characteristics of bladder cancer. Our results indicate that inheritedabsence of GSTT1 gene may be associated with bladder cancer susceptibility, and specific combinations ofGSTM1, GSTT1 and CYP1B1 gene polymorphisms may modify bladder cancer risk in the Turkish population,without any association being observed for CYP1A1 gene polymorphism and bladder cancer risk.     

RB1CC1 activates the promoter and expression of RB1 in human cancer

RB1‐inducible coiled‐coil 1 (RB1CC1, also known as FIP200) is a tumor suppressor implicated in the regulation of RB1 (retinoblastoma 1) expression. However, the molecular mechanism of RB1 regulation by RB1CC1 has not been elucidated. Here, we demonstrate that nuclear RB1CC1 binds to the RB1 promoter using chromatin immunoprecipitation assays with anti‐RB1CC1 antibody. Luciferase assays with RB1 promoter reporter plasmids revealed that RB1CC1 activated the RB1 promoter through the 201 bp upstream GC‐rich region (from the initiation ATG). Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and Western blot analysis supported RB1CC1 binding to the GC‐rich region of the RB1 promoter. In addition, the C‐terminus of RB1CC1 was required for nuclear localization and subsequent RB1 promoter activation. Furthermore, the expression levels of RB1CC1 and RB1 significantly correlated with in vivo breast cancer tissues as determined by immunohistochemical analysis. These data indicate that nuclear RB1CC1 directly activates the RB1 promoter to enhance RB1 expression in cancer cells. Evaluation of RB1CC1 in various types of human cancer tissues is expected to provide useful information for clinical practice and future therapeutic strategies. © 2009 UICC     

Polymorphisms of CYP1A1, GSTM1, GSTT1, and prostate cancer risk in Turkish population

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in many countries. Although the etiology of prostate cancer largely is unknown, both genetic and environmental factors may be involved. Advanced age, androgen metabolism, and heredity-race have been reported to be possible risk factors. On the other hand, several studies indicate that genetic polymorphisms in biotransformation enzymes play a role in prostate cancer development. In this study, association of the prostate cancer risk with genotype frequencies of the Phase I (CYP1A1) and Phase II (GSTM1 and GSTT1) biotransformation enzymes was investigated in 321 Turkish individuals (152 prostate cancer patients and 169 age-matched male controls). The presence or absences of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes were determined by a PCR-based method. Genotypes of CYP1A1 were determined by MspI-RFLP. The prevalence of GSTM1 null genotype in the cases was 64 percent, compared to 31 percent in the control group, indicating a strong association (OR = 4.08, 95%CI = 2.50-6.69). No association was observed between either GSTT1 null genotype or CYP1A1 polymorphism and prostate cancer incidence. No statistically significant association was observed between smoking status of the patients and any of the polymorphisms studied. In conclusion, results of this study indicate that only the GSTM1 null genotype may play an important role as a risk factor for prostate cancer development in Turkish population.     

VEGFR1和MDR1在胃癌中的表达及意义

目的:探讨VEGFR1和MDR1在胃癌中的表达及意义.方法:采用免疫组化SP法检测VEGFR1和MDR1在胃癌中的表达及与分化程度的关系;比较VEGFR1和MDR1在胃癌中的表达相关性.结果:VEGFR1在高、中、低度分化胃癌的表达率依次为15/53(28%)、19/43(44%)、37/54(68%); 在低分化胃癌组织中的表达明显高于高分化和中分化胃癌组织(P＜0.05).MDR1在高、中、低度分化胃癌的表达率依次为18/53(34%)、21/43(48%)、41/54(76%); 在低分化胃癌组织中的表达明显高于高分化和中分化胃癌组织 (P＜0.05).结论:VEGFR1和MDR1在胃癌中的表达具有一致性,可能在胃癌的多药耐药中扮演重要角色.     

Multiplex PCR with Confronting Two-pair Primers for CYP1A1 Ile462Val,GSTM1, GSTT1, and NQO1 C609T

Polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers (PCR-CTPP) is an effective genotyping method ‍for single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in aspects of reducing time and costs for analysis. So far we have ‍established PCR-CTPP conditions for tens of SNPs, including a triplex genotyping (Kawase et al., 2003). In the ‍present study we report a quadruplex PCR-CTPP to genotype simultaneously four functional polymorphisms of ‍carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes, CYP1A1 Ile462Val, GSTM1 null, GSTT1 null and NQO1 C609T, which were ‍reported that they have significant associations with smoking-related cancers. We applied this method for 475 health ‍check-up examinees to demonstrate the performance. Among the subjects, the genotype frequency of CYP1A1 ‍Ile462Val was 56.8% for Ile/Ile, 38.1% for Ile/Val and 5.1% for Val/Val. The null type frequencies of GSTM1 and ‍GSTT1 were 52.8% and 49.9%, respectively. And the genotype frequency of NQO1 C609T was 41.9% for C/C, ‍41.3% for C/T and 16.8% for T/T. Their distributions were similar to those reported for Japanese by other studies. ‍To the best of our awareness, this is the first paper that reports the success in quadruplex PCR-CTPP. The applied ‍polymorphisms are useful ones, which would be adopted not only for research purposes, but also for risk assessment ‍of individuals exposed to carcinogenic substances. This convenient genotyping would be applied for cancer prevention ‍especially in Asian Pacific regions, where expensive genotyping methods are hardly available.     

Genetic Variation of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 Genes in a South Indian Population

The glutathione S transferase (GST) family of enzymes play a vital role in the phase II biotransformation ofenvironmental carcinogens, pollutants, drugs and other xenobiotics. GSTs are polymorphic and the polymorphismsin GST genes have been associated with cancer susceptibility and prognosis. Moreover, distinct ethnic differenceshave been observed in the type and frequency of GST gene polymorphisms. Hence, the present study was aimed todetermine the frequencies of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms in 255 healthy random volunteers fromSouth India. The GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes were determined by PCR and GSTP1 by PCR-RFLP using peripheralblood DNA.The GSTM1 and GSTT1 null genotype frequencies were found to be 22.4% and 17.6% respectively. TheGSTP1 allelic frequency was 0.78 for the Ile allele and 0.22 for the Val allele and the genotype frequency was 58.4%for Ile/Ile, 38.4% for Ile/Val, and 3.1% for Val/Val. Comparison of the frequencies of GST polymorphisms observedin the present study with other Indian and world populations revealed a distinctive nature of the South Indianpopulation with respect to polymorphims at the GST gene loci. A better understanding of carcinogen metabolizinggene distribution should contribute to risk assessment of humans exposed to environmental carcinogens.