GSTM1 Gene Polymorphisms on Lung Cancer Development in the Turkish Population

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) play an important role in the de­toxification of many xenobiotics involved in the etiology of cancer. A series of studies have suggested that individuals lacking GSTM1 could potentially be at higher risk for lung cancer. In different eth­nic groups variations in null allele frequency has been observed. In our study on a Turkish population sample, GSTM1 gene polymorp­hisms and encoding phase II biotransformation enzymes, were inves­tigated in healthy subjects and in lung cancer patients. DNA samp­les, extracted from the whole blood were amplified using polymera­se chain reaction (PCR) method in all 87 subjects, consisting of 47 previously diagnosed lung cancer patients and 40 healthy controls. The prevalence of GSTMl-null genotype in the lung cancer pa­tients was 51.1%, compared to 57.5% in the control group. No statistical significance related with GSTM1 (0/0) null genotype was found between the control and lung cancer groups (OR = 1.30, 95% 0=0.55-3.03, P=0.55). We observed that carrying the GSTM1 genotype is not a risk factor alone for lung cancer.