SUSCEPTIBILITY TO ASTROCYTOMA AND MENINGIOMA - INFLUENCE OF ALLELISM AT GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE (GSTT1 AND GSTM1) AND CYTOCHROME-P-450 (CYP2D6) LOCI

We describe a case-control study to identify associations between poly morphism at the cytochrome P-450 (CYP2D6) and glutathione S-transferas e (GSTT1 and GSTM1) loci and susceptibility to astrocytoma and meningi oma. Accordingly, genotype frequencies in 112 astrocytoma and 50 menin gioma patients were compared with frequencies in 577 controls. GSTM1 g enotype frequencies in these groups were not different. Logistic regre ssion analysis shelved GSTT1 null and CYP2D6 poor metabolizer were ris k factors in astrocytoma (odds ratio = 2.67 P = 0.0005 and odds ratio = 4.17 P = 0.0043, respectively) and meningioma (odds ratio = 4.52, P = 0.0001 and odds ratio = 4.90, P = 0.0132, respectively) when correct ed for the other variables. No interactive effects between genotypes w ere identified. The data suggest polymorphism at loci encoding carcino gen-metabolizing enzymes influences susceptibility to astrocytoma and meningioma, possibly by determining effectiveness in the detoxificatio n of environmental carcinogens.