Glutathione S-Transferase M1 and Susceptibility to Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Genetic polymorphisms for enzymes that metabolize tobacco smoke have been reported to determine susceptibility to several smoking-related cancers, including cancers of the lung, bladder, and head and neck. Glutathione S -transferase M1 ( GSTM1 ) detoxifies benzo( a )pyrene and other carcinogens in t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention biomarkers & prevention, 1999-06, Vol.8 (6), p.547-551
Main Authors: NAZAR-STEWART, V, VAUGHAN, T. L, BURT, R. D, CHEN, C, BERWICK, M, SWANSON, G. M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Age Distribution
Aged
Alcohol Drinking - adverse effects
Biological and medical sciences
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - epidemiology
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell - etiology
Case-Control Studies
Female
Genetic Predisposition to Disease - genetics
Glutathione Transferase - genetics
Humans
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - epidemiology
Nasopharyngeal Neoplasms - etiology
Otorhinolaryngology (head neck, general aspects and miscellaneous)
Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology
Polymorphism, Genetic - genetics
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
SEER Program
Sex Distribution
Smoking - adverse effects
Surveys and Questionnaires
Tumors
United States - epidemiology
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Summary:Genetic polymorphisms for enzymes that metabolize tobacco smoke have been reported to determine susceptibility to several smoking-related cancers, including cancers of the lung, bladder, and head and neck. Glutathione S -transferase M1 ( GSTM1 ) detoxifies benzo( a )pyrene and other carcinogens in tobacco smoke. Approximately 50% of Caucasians lack the GSTM1 gene. Because the most common type of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), squamous cell carcinoma, is related to smoking, we sought to determine whether GSTM1 is associated with risk for NPC. Cases ( n = 83) were from a population-based study conducted from 1987 to 1993 at five cancer registries in the United States. Random-digit dialing controls ( n = 114) were matched to the cases for age, sex, and registry. Subjects participated in a phone interview and blood draw. Absence of GSTM1 was associated with increased risk for NPC (odds ratio = 1.9, 95% confidence interval = 1.0–3.3 for all cases; and odds ratio = 1.7, 95% confidence interval = 0.8–3.5 for squamous cell cases). This relationship was not modified by smoking history, but stronger relationships between glutathione S -transferase and NPC were suggested among subjects who used alcohol more frequently than others, older subjects (50 or more years of age), and women relative to men. These data indicate that absence of GSTM1 moderately increases risk for NPC and add to growing evidence that GSTM1 is a determinant of risk for several smoking-related cancers.
ISSN:1055-9965
1538-7755