GST gene polymorphism in HCC cases from North East India: A pilot study

Aim: The current study was designed to investigate the genetic variation of cancer critical gene namely GST in patients with HCC and healthy individuals from NE region of India. Consecutive 40 confirmed cases of HCC and 80 cases of age and sex-matched healthy individuals were included in accordance with the 1975 Helsinki guidelines. The DNA extraction was done from whole blood in all the cases by DNA extraction kit followed by PCR amplification and RFLP. Representative amplicons were sent for commercial sequencing. Results were analyzed using Mutation Taster. GSTM1 non-null genotype was found in 16 out of 40 (40%) cancer cases whereas it was found in 66 out of 80 (82.5%) control cases. GSTM1 null genotype was observed in 24 out of 40 (60%) cases and 14 out of 80 (17.5%) control cases, respectively. It was observed that people with GSTM1 null genotype had seven times higher risk of developing liver cancer compared to people harboring GSTM1 non-null type. GSTT1 non-null genotype was found in 29 out of 40 (72.5%) cancer cases whereas it was found in 72 out of 80 (90%) control cases. Again, GSTT1 null genotype was found in 11 out of 40 (27.5%) cases whereas it was 8 out of 80 (10%) control cases. It was observed that people with GSTT1 null genotype had roughly 3 times higher risk of developing liver cancer compared to people harboring GSTT1 non-null type. The study would be greatly beneficial if multiple cancer critical genes and their synergistic effect with GST gene polymorphism have been studied in a large population. Nonetheless, the present study will generate some baseline data pertaining to HCC in the northeastern population with distinct genetic makeup.