Background. Genes of the glutathione S-transferase (GST) encode the super-family of intracellular enzymes, which play a key role in the detoxification of xenobiotics and the protection of macromolecules from reactive oxygen radicals and environmental carcinogens. In case of the del etion in these genes, carcinogens stimulate formation of DNA adducts and cell malignancy. There is not yet enough data about the association between polymorphism in GST genes and cervical cancer. Research of GST genes polymorphism as a risk factor needs new studies with larger population in order to understand better the development of cervical cancer.
Aim of the study - to determine a difierence in the frequency of polymorphism of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes among healthy women, women with intraepithelial cervical lesions and women with cervical cancer.
Material and methods. 94 women were included in the study (31 healthy women, 27 patients with intraepithelial cervical lesions, 36 patients with cervical cancer). For all women GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphism were identified by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. The chi-square (%2) test was used for the analysis of qualitative parameters. Results were considered as statistically significant when p<0.05.
Results. Among all studied groups statistically significant distribution of GSTM1 polymorphism variants was found between healthy women and women with intraepithelial cervical lesions (p=0.01), between healthy women and women with cervical cancer (p=0.001) and between women with intraepithelial cer vi cal le sions and women with cervical cancer (p=0.04). The statistically significant distribution of GSTT1 polymorphism variants was determined between healthy women and women with cervical cancer (p=0.005).
Conclusions. Deletions in GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes were not detected among healthy women. There were no significant differences in the deletion frequency of studied genes and patients with intraepithelial cervical lesions. The highest frequency of deletions was identitied among patients with cervical cancer. The study results suggest that polymorphism in GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes is associated with the increased risk of cervical cancer.
Keywords: intraepithelial cervical lesions and cervical cancer, glutathione S-transferase genes polymorphisms.
