Glutathione S-transferase gene polymorphisms and risk of gastric cancer in a Chinese population

Aim: The potential role of GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 polymorphisms in risk of gastric cancer in Chinese was studied. Methods: We collected 194 gastric cancers by pathologic examination and 412 controls from southern China during January 2007 to January 2011. Genotyping was based upon duplex polymerase-chain-reaction withthe PCR-CTPP method. Results: Individuals carrying null GSTM1 and GSTT1 had 1.49 and 1.96 fold risk sof gastric cancer when compared with respective non-null genotypes. We also found a non-significant 37% excess risk of gastric cancer among carriers of GSTP1 1b/1b genotype when compared with 1a/1a genotype (OR=1.37, 95% CI=0.81-2.25). The combination of null/null GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes showed higher increased risk of gastric cancer (OR=3.17, 95% CI=1.68-4.21). Moreover, cancers in ever smokers and ever drinkers were observed to be strongly associated with null GSTM1 and GSTT1, and a significant cancer risk was observed in positive H.pylori infection individuals with null GSTT1. Conclusion: Our study provided evidence that genetic deletion of GSTM1 and GSTT1 may contribute to increased susceptibility to gastric cancer in our Chinese population, while the GSTP1a/b polymorphism may not.