Lung cancer susceptibility and polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferase genes in Hong Kong

OBJECTIVE: To study the potential role of genetic polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferases GSTM1, GSTT1 and GSTP1 in susceptibility to lung cancer in Hong Kong Chinese. METHODS: 229 consecutive incident patients with a histological diagnosis of lung cancer from a regional hospital and 197 healthy population-based controls were recruited for this study between July 1999 and June 2001. Genetic polymorphisms of GSTT1 and GSTM1 were determined using PCR-based technique. RESULTS: The frequencies of GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes were 51.8 and 59.4% in healthy controls and 63 and 54.7%, respectively, in lung cancer patients. GSTP1 Val105/Val105 genotype was found in only 1% of healthy controls. The risk for lung cancer with GSTT1 null genotype was significantly higher, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 1.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.12-2.56, compared with those with the GSTT1 genotype; the increase in risk was found only in non-smokers. GSTM1 null genotype, combined GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotype and GSTP1 Val105/Val105 genotype did not confer any increase risk for lung cancer. CONCLUSION: GSTT1 null genotype is associated with an increased risk for lung cancer in non-smoking Chinese in Hong Kong.