Influence of glutathione-S-transferase theta (GSTT1) and mu (GSTM1) gene polymorphisms on the susceptibility of hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan

Background and Objectives: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most frequent malignant neoplasms worldwide and is the second leading cause of cancer death in Taiwan. Genetic polymorphism has been reported as a factor for increased susceptibility of HCC. Glutathione-S-transferases theta (GSTT1) and mu (GSTM1) play essential roles in detoxification of ingested xenobiotics and modulation of the susceptibility of gene-related cancer. The aim of this study was to estimate the relationships between these two gene polymorphisms and HCC risk and clinicopathological status in Taiwanese. Methods: Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine gene polymorphisms of 102 patients with HCC and 386 healthy controls. Results: Both gene polymorphisms were not associated with the clinical pathological status of HCC and serum levels of liver-related clinical pathological markers. While no relationship between GSTM1 gene polymorphism and HCC susceptibility was found, individuals of age <56 years old with GSTT1 present genotype have a risk of 2.77-fold (95% CI: 1.09-7.09) for HCC compared to that with null variant, after adjustment for other confounders. Conclusions: GSTT1 and GSTM1 null genotypes do not associate with increased risk of HCC.