GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE GSTM1 NULL GENOTYPE IS NOT OVERREPRESENTED IN AUSTRALIAN PATIENTS WITH NEVOID BASAL-CELL CARCINOMA SYNDROME OR SPORADIC MELANOMA
Sm. Shanley et al., GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE GSTM1 NULL GENOTYPE IS NOT OVERREPRESENTED IN AUSTRALIAN PATIENTS WITH NEVOID BASAL-CELL CARCINOMA SYNDROME OR SPORADIC MELANOMA, Carcinogenesis, 16(8), 1995, pp. 2003-2004
The GSTM1 gene on chromosome 1p encodes the carcinogen-detoxification
enzyme, glutathione S-transferase (mu subclass), The homozygous null g
enotype at this locus has been associated with increased susceptibilit
y to malignancy, including some skin cancers, One hundred and twenty-f
our Australian patients with sporadic melanoma and 62 with familial ba
sal cell carcinomas (a feature of nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome
, NBCCS) were examined for germline homozygous deletions of GSTM1 usin
g multiplex polymerase chain reactions, The homozygous null genotype w
as not overrepresented in either those with a single melanoma or in th
e NBCCS cases, Nor did it significantly accelerate tumorigenesis in ei
ther group, Analyses of much larger sample sizes will be required to i
nvestigate the representation of the null genotype in patients with mu
ltiple melanoma primaries and in those with melanoma coexisting with o
ther non-cutaneous malignancies.