GSTM1 GENE POLYMORPHISM AS A POSSIBLE MARKER FOR SUSCEPTIBILITY TO HEAD AND NECK CANCERS AMONG JAPANESE SMOKERS

Increased risk of lung cancer has been reported in individuals with gl utathione S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) gene deletion, with limited evidenc e for head and neck (HN) cancer. Here, we report the results of a case -control study in Japanese HN cancer patients (n = 158) and community controls (n = 174). GSTM1 null genotype (GSTM1(-)) was distributed mor e in smoker patients than in control subjects (56.7% vs. 48.5%) but no t in non-smoker patients (48.3%). In smokers, GSTM1(-) was detected at increased frequency in non-larynx cancer (62.7%, odds ratio 1.77, 95% CI 1.04-3.01) but not in larynx cancer (48.1%). In larynx cancer GSTM 1(-) was presented at higher frequency in patients <60 years old than in those greater than or equal to 60 years old (78.6% vs. 36.8%). Thes e findings suggest that the GSTM1 gene polymorphism potentially modifi es the risk for HN cancer depending on smoking history, the region of cancer and age. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd.