Esophageal Cancer
Copyright ©2006 Baishideng Publishing Group Co., Limited. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. Dec 28, 2006; 12(48): 7758-7761
Published online Dec 28, 2006. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v12.i48.7758
Glutathione-S-transferase M1 polymorphisms on the susceptibility to esophageal cancer among three Chinese minorities: Kazakh, Tajik and Uygur
Xiao-Mei Lu, Ting Yang, Shu-Yong Xu, Hao Wen, Xing Wang, Zhi-Hui Ren, Yan Zhang, Wei Wang
Xiao-Mei Lu, Hao Wen, Xing Wang, Zhi-Hui Ren, Yan Zhang, Medical Research Center, 1st Teaching Hospital, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
Ting Yang, Shu-Yong Xu, Basic Medical College, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi 830054, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China
Wei Wang, Department of Biology, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
Correspondence to: Dr. Wei Wang, Department of Biology, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China. luxm88@sohu.com
Telephone: +86-10-88256373 Fax: +86-10-88256348
Received: September 28, 2006
Revised: September 28, 2006
Accepted: November 29, 2006
Published online: December 28, 2006
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) polymorphisms in three Chinese minorities, Kazakh, Uygur, and Tajik; and the pathological significance of GSTM1 polymorphisms in esophageal carcinogenesis in Kazakh.

METHODS: A total of 1121 blood samples (442 males and 679 females) were obtained from healthy Kazakh (654), Uygur (412) and Tajik (55). Primary esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC) tissues from Kazakh were obtained from 116 patients who underwent surgery. GSTM1 polymorphisms were analyzed by a combined approach of PCR and electrophoresis techniques.

RESULTS: GSTM1 null genotype was found in 62.63% Uygur, 50.91% Tajik and 47.40% Kazakh. A significantly higher frequency of GSTM1 null genotype in Uygur was observed compared with Kazakh (OR: 1.859, 95% CI: 1.445 -2.391, χ2 = 23.71, P = 0.000). In addition, GSTM1 null genotype was found in 23.53% of well-differentiated ESCC in Kazakh, in 49.23% of poorly differentiated ESCC, with a significant difference (OR: 3.152, 95% CI: 1.403-7.080, χ2 = 8.018, P = 0.007).

CONCLUSION: There is a marked difference in the frequency of common GSTM1 null genotype between Uygur and Kazakh. GSTM1 null genotype is associated with differentiation of ESCC in Kazakh.

Keywords: Glutathione-S-transferase M1; Kazakh; Uygur; Tajik; Esophageal cancer