Glutathione transferases, broccoli, and colon adenomas

Our interest is to use an epidemiologic approach to study how cruciferous v egetables may prevent colorectal adenomas, which are precursors to cancer. Broccoli contains the compound, sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate that induce s carcinogen-detoxifying enzymes. Isothiocyanates are conjugated by glutath ione transferase enzymes, leading to excretion. In an earlier case-control study, we observed the lowest prevalence of colorectal adenomas among subje cts with high broccoli intake and the GSTM1 null genotype. Here we extend t he analysis to a genetic variant of GSTP1. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Irelan d Ltd. All rights reserved.