Susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma associated with null genotypes of GSTM] and GSTT1

AIM In order to study the association betweenthe null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 and thegenetic susceptibility to hepatocellularcarcinoma(HCC).METHODS The genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1of 63 cases of HCC and 88 controls were detectedwith the multiple PCR technique.RESULTS The frequency of GSTM1 nullgenotype was 57.1% among the cases,and42.0% among the controls,the difference beingstatistically significant(χ~2=3.35,P=0.067),but χ~2 value approaching the significance level.The odds ratio was 1.84(95% Cl= 0.91-3.37).The frequency of GSTT1 non-null genotype was87.3% among the cases and 52.5% among thecontrols,the difference being statisticallysignificant(χ~2=11.42,P=0.0007274).The oddsratio was 4.13(95% Cl=1.64-10.70).According to the cross analysis,the GSTT1 non-null genotype was more closely associated withHCC than GSTM1 null genotype,and these twofactors play an approximate additive interactionin the occurrence of HCC.CONCLUSION The persons with GSTM1 nullgenotype and GSTT1 non-null genotype have theincreased risk to HCC.