ABSTRACT:
Glutathione S-transferases (GSTM1 and GSTT1) detoxify tobacco smoke constituents and polymorphisms within GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes, can result in a complete lack of enzyme activity. In this hospital based case-control study, 230 cervical cancer patients (cases) and 230 controls were studied to determine the risk of the disease due to polymorphisms at GSTM1 and GSTT1 locus. For GSTM1 null genotype (?² =8.97, df=1, p=0.003) and GSTT1 null genotype (?² =8.33, df=1, p=0.004), the association was found to have statistically significant between cases and controls. The GSTM1 null genotype had 2.5 times increased risk for cervical cancer (OR= 2.57 p<0.001, 95% CI = 1.36 to 4.85), whereas GSTT1 null genotype had 1.8 times higher risk of getting cervial cancer (OR = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.21 to 2.75). GSTM1 null genotype showed significant distribution for Gudakhu habit in case and control groups (?2=7.734, df=1, p=0.005). Tobacco chewing and alcohol drinking habit did not show any associations with the occurrence of cervical cancer.These findings indicate that GSTM1 and GSTT1 polymorphisms play crucial role in the development of cervical cancer.