Genetic polymorphisms of CYP1A1, CYP2E1, and GSTM1 genes: Susceptibility to colon cancer

Cancer susceptibility is influenced by genetic polymorphisms of enzymes metabolising and detoxifying carcinogenic chemical compounds. Phenotypic and genetic differences in cytochrome P-450 1A1, 2E1 and GSTM1 enzymes often correlate with occurrence of certain cancers. Beside lung and bladder cancer, there is considerable evidence that colorectal tumours are also affected by these polymorphisms. We have examined the distribution of genotypes among non-familiar colon tumour patients and controls. There was a moderate effect of each polymorphism on colon cancer sensitivity alone, but the combination of the three high-risk alleles was significantly associated with increased risk of colon cancer(RR: 1.73, CI: 1.07-2.81).