Polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferase genes GSTM1 and GSTT1 and prostate cancer risk in Chinese population

Objective To observe the relationship between the glutathione S-transferase genes (GSTM1 and GSTT1) and the risk of prostate cancer (PCa) in Chinese population. Methods Blood samples from 81 prostate cancer patients and 90 controls with age above 50 in Chongqing were collected. DNA was extracted from each blood sample, the frequencies of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results The frequencies of GSTM1 null in PCa was 54.3%, 44.4% in controls, suggesting no significant difference between them (P=0.197, OR=1.486,95%CI=0.813-2.718). The frequencies of GSTT1 null in PCa was 54.3%, 44.4% in controls, suggesting no significant difference between them (P=0.974, OR=0.99, 95%CI=0.543-1.807). The combination of GSTM1 null with GSTT1 null gene type was significantly less in PCa than that of the controls (P=0.034, OR=2.314, 95%CI=1.054-5.076). Conclusion Neither the GSTM1 null genotype nor the GSTT1 null genotype was associated with prostate-cancer risk, but the combination of them both had significant relationship with prostate cancer risk. No statistically significant associations were found between polymorphism of GSTM1 or GSTT1 with disease status and Gleason grade of PCa.