The glutathione S-transferase mu polymorphism and susceptibility to acute lymphocytic leukemia

It has been postulated that the absence of glutathione S-transferase mu (GSTmu), which impairs detoxification of some carcinogens, might predispose some individuals to the development of certain cancers. In the present study, polymorphism of GSTM1 were detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in 38 patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia and 75 normal subjects. The null genotype of GSTM1 was significantly more common among leukemic patients compared with the normal control group (55.3 vs. 32.0%; P<0.025). The absence of the GSTmu enzyme may increase the risk of the development of leukemia.