Abstract:
The glutathione sulfur tranferases (GSTs) are a group of enzymes involved in the detoxification process of carcinogens and other substances. The genes encoding these enzymes are polymorphic in human and the phenotypic absence of enzyme activity (null genotype) may have an effect on the risk of several cancers.
This was analytical case control study, was conducted in Gezira State during the period from February to April 2016, to investigate the association between GSTM1 Null polymorphism and childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
A total of forty patients (Cases) diagnosed with ALL attended to the National Cancer Institute, Gezira State, and 30 healthy volunteers (control) were enrolled for this study. Three milliliter (3ml) of venous blood was collected from each participant in ethylene diamine tetra acetic (EDTA) container. For molecular analysis DNA is extracted from blood samples by salting out method; the analysis of GSTM1 genetic polymorphism was performed using Allele specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The results were analyzed by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) computer program.
The frequency of GSTM1 null polymorphism was 75% in ALL patients, while it was 53% in the control group. The difference was not statistically significant (OR= 1.34, 95%C I (1.11 - 1.39), P=0.059).
Blasts percentage in patients with null genotype (mean±SD: 59.4± 26.65) when compared to those with patients have normal genotype (mean± SD:72.0±15.31), The result showed that there was not statistically significantly lower (P.value=0.076 ).
Comparison of Hb concentration in patients with null genotype (mean± SD:7.0±2.60) and those with GSTM1 genotype (mean± SD:5.9±2.76), showed no statistically significant difference (p.value=0.269).
The mean of TWBCs counts among patients with null genotype (mean:66.6 , SD:56.23), While among the normal GSTM1 (mean:54.4, SD: 66.27) and the difference was statistically inisignificantly higher (p.value=0.574).
Comparison of TWBCs counts in patients with null genotype (mean± SD:66.6±56.23) and those with GSTM1 genotype (mean± SD:54.4±66.27), showed no statistically significant difference (p.value=0.574).
Comparison of platelets counts in patients with null genotype (mean± SD:60.6±94.81) and those with GSTM1 genotype (mean± SD:42.1±41.34), showed no statistically significant difference (p.value=0.556).
Comparison of age in patients with null genotype (mean± SD:7.8±4.05) and those with GSTM1 genotype (mean± SD:5.6±3.10), showed no statistically significant difference (p.value=0.373).
Results showed that no correlation between GSTM1 null polymorphism and each of gender and family history of ALL (P.value=0.262 & 0.620 respectively).
Concluded that there was no statistically significant association between GSTM1 null polymorphism and childhood ALL development.
