Polymorphism analyses of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in Acute Leukemia patients

Abstract

Leukemia is a neoplasic disease that affects bone-marrow cells. In case of Acute Leukemia (AL)the proliferating cells are immature or blasts. The causes of AL are likely to involve an interaction between genetic susceptibility and environment. Polymorphisms in genes coding metabolizing/detoxification enzymes are responsible for this susceptibility. The aim of this study was to analyze polymorphisms of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in order to verify if they have a role in genetic susceptibility to AL. Genomic DNA from 87 patients (24 myeloblastic, 35 lymphoblastic, 28 with no specific classification) was analyzed by a multiplex PCR methodology. Patient age variation was between 6 months and 80 years old, being 35 females and 52 males. Significant increase in the prevalence of GSTT1 null genotype was detected in the patient group comparing to controls (41,37% X 23%) (P=0.005). No difference was found in the prevalence of GSTM1 null genotype between AL patients and controls (49,42% X 50%). Our results suggest that the GSTT1 genotype may be involved in genetic susceptibility to LA.