Lung adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma in association with genetic polymorphisms of GSTs in Slovak population

Abstract

Slovak Republic belongs to the countries with high incidence of lung cancer. Gene polymorphisms of the glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) may play a role in individual lung cancer susceptibility. In presented case-control study we investigate the incidence of polymorphism of GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1 genes and their combinations as possible predictive factors for identification of individuals with increased risk of formation and development of adenocarcinoma (AC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of lung in Slovak population. The study was conducted on 520 individuals consisting of 118 patients with adenocarcinoma, 112 patients with squamous cell carcinoma and 290 control individuals. GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1 gene polymorphisms were assayed by standard PCR and PCR-RFLP technique. The results of this study indicate that the GSTT1null-genotype and combination GSTT1 null and Ile/Val or Val/Val are associated with increased risk of lung adenocarcinoma. A significant association with 2.13 - fold increased risk was observed between lung adenocarcinoma and GSTT1 null genotype (95% CI = 1.29 - 3.51; p= 0.004). Also it was proved 2.83 times statistically higher risk for development of this histological type of lung cancer (95% CI = 1.34 - 6.01; P = 0.005) in combination of GSTT1null and Ile/Val or Val/Val genotypes. GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1 polymorphism did not show any significant association with SCC. Our study suggests that genetic make-up in metabolizing genes may increase susceptibility towards lung cancer development.