A survey of GSTP1 polymorphism reveals it only increases risk in smokers

A survey of GSTP1 polymorphism reveals it only increases risk in smokers
(Cervical Cancer-March 18, 2003)

According to a study from South Korea, "Previous studies have suggested that glutathione S-transferase (GST) genotypes may play a role in determining susceptibility to cervical cancer, though the data have often been conflicting. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of GSTP1 polymorphism on cervical carcinogenesis. The studied subjects, patients who were pathologically diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer yielding positive results for human papillomavirus (HPV) (n=342); were compared to healthy, normal, female controls (n=707).

"DNA from peripheral blood samples from studied subjects whose GSTP1 specific sequences had been determined by PCR with allele-specific primers were reviewed in comparison with the normal controls. The genetic susceptibility of GSTP1 (11q 13.1) in cervical carcinogenesis was determined by examining the effect of gene and environmental factors by the different histopathologic types of invasive cervical cancers. In assessing polymorphism GSTP1, the percentages of individuals homozygous for the A allele, homozygous for the G allele, and heterozygous for the two alleles were 66.8%, 3.9%, 29.3%, respectively, in the control group; and 64.3%, 4.1%, and 31.6%, respectively, among in women with cervical cancer. Compared with GSTP1 G(+) (GA or G/G), the odds ratio (OR) (95% CI) for GSTP1 A/A was 1.0 (0.7-1.4) for invasive cervical cancer. However, the risk increased with GSTP1 A/A among ever smokers (3.9, 1.7-8.9, p=0.0012) compared with GSTP1 G(+) among nonsmokers. In particular, this risk was higher among women with squamous cell carcinoma (4.7, 2.0-10.8, p=0.0003)," stated S.H. Jee and coauthors, Catholic University of Korea.

Jee and coauthors concluded: "Polymorphism of GSTP1 among smoking women was associated with a higher risk of developing cervical cancer."

Jee and colleagues published the results of their study in Yonsei Medical Journal (GSTP1 polymorphism, cigarette smoking and cervical cancer risk in Korean women. Yonsei Med J, 2002;43(6):712-716).

The corresponding author for this report is J.S. Park, Catholic University of Korea, Department Obstetrics & Gynecology, Kangnam St. Marys Hospital, 505 Banpo Dong, Seoul 137040, South Korea.

The information in this article comes under the major subject areas of DNA Research, Genomics and Genetics, Gynecology, Cervical Cancer, Hematology, Papillomavirus, Infectious Disease, Oncology, Tobacco Use, Virology, Histology, Gene Polymorphism and Women's Health. This article was prepared by Cancer Weekly editors from staff and other reports.