Dietary isothiocyanates, glutathione S-transferase -M1, -T1 polymorphisms and lung cancer risk among Chinese women in Singapore.

Abstract

Chinese populations consume a diet relatively high in isothiocyanates (ITCs), a derivative of cruciferous vegetables known to have cancer-protective effects. This class of compounds is metabolized by the glutathione S-transferase family of enzymes, which are also involved in the detoxification of tobacco-related carcinogens such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and alkyl halides. We evaluated the association between dietary isothiocyanate intake, GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms, and lung cancer risk in 420 Chinese women: 233 histologically confirmed lung cancer patients and 187 hospital controls. Among these, 58.8% of cases and 90.3% of controls were lifetime nonsmokers. An allele-specific PCR method was used to detect the presence or absence of the GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes in DNA isolated from peripheral blood. Higher weekly intake of ITCs (above the control median value of 53.0 micromol) reduced the risk of lung cancer to a greater extent in smokers [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 0.31; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.10-0.98] than nonsmokers (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.45-1.11). The inverse association was stronger among subjects with homozygous deletion of GSTM1 and/or GSTT1. Among nonsmokers with GSTM1-null genotype, higher intake of ITCs significantly reduced the risk of lung cancer (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.30-0.95), an effect not seen among those with detectable GSTM1 (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.50-2.29). Our results, in a Chinese female population, are consistent with the hypothesis that ITC is inversely related to the risk of lung cancer, and we show that among nonsmokers this effect may be primarily confined to GST-null individuals. Conjugation and elimination of ITCs is enhanced in GST-non-null relative to -null individuals, such that the GST metabolic genotype modifies the protective effect of ITCs on lung cancer development.

• Authors: B Zhao, A Seow, E J Lee, W T Poh, M Teh, P Eng, Y T Wang, W C Tan, M C Yu, H P Lee
• Journal: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev) Vol. 10 Issue 10 Pg. 1063-7 (Oct 2001) ISSN: 1055-9965 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11588132 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Chemical References

• Biomarkers, Tumor
• Isothiocyanates
• glutathione S-transferase T1
• Glutathione Transferase
• glutathione S-transferase M1

Topics

• Adult
• Age Distribution
• Aged
• Asian People (genetics)
• Base Sequence
• Biomarkers, Tumor (analysis)
• Case-Control Studies
• Cohort Studies
• Confidence Intervals
• Dietary Supplements
• Female
• Glutathione Transferase (genetics)
• Humans
• Incidence
• Isothiocyanates (administration & dosage)
• Logistic Models
• Lung Neoplasms (epidemiology, genetics, prevention & control)
• Middle Aged
• Molecular Sequence Data
• Odds Ratio
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Polymorphism, Genetic
• Reference Values
• Risk Assessment
• Sensitivity and Specificity
• Singapore (epidemiology)