Glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms: influence on susceptibility to cancer.

The glutathione S-transferase supergene family includes several loci that demonstrate well characterised polymorphisms. The apparently critical role of these enzymes in cellular protection from the cytotoxic and mutagenic effects of electrophiles suggest that alleles associated with impaired detoxification will confer an increased susceptibility to a wide range of diseases. This hypothesis has been examined in case control studies and while data in some diseases such as lung cancer are conflicting, an increasing body of evidence suggests the importance of several glutathione S-transferase polymorphisms. In particular, GST genotypes have been associated with an increased susceptibility or worse outcome in diseases associated with oxidative stress. For example, both GSTM1 and GSTT1 genotypes are associated with susceptibility and outcome in cutaneous basal cell carcinoma. It still remains unclear however, why particular glutathione S-transferase loci are associated with altered risk in some diseases but not others. Further, the true in vivo substrates of these enzymes is unknown, consequently their mechanism of action remains unclear.