ABSTRACT. The glutathione S transferase (GST) family plays an important role in the processing of carcinogens. Data on the null GSTM1 genotype has revealed associations with cancer, and has been suggested to affect carcinogen metabolism and to contribute to tumor promotion in 13067 GSTM1 polymorphism in breast cancer ©FUNPEC-RP www.funpecrp.com.br Genetics and Molecular Research 14 (4): 13066-13075 (2015) the mammary gland. We examined the role of the null GSTM1 genotype by comparing the genotypes of 276 healthy Mexican women with those of 558 Mexican women with breast cancer (BC). The genotype frequencies observed in the controls and patients with BC were 38 and 45% for the null GSTM1 genotype, respectively. The obtained odds ratio (OR) was 1.36, with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 1.02-1.8, P = 0.04. The protective association was also evident upon analysis of the distributions of the null GSTM1 genotype in patients with positive chemotherapy response who had high plasma levels of glucose (OR 0.56, 95%CI = 0.33-0.94, P = 0.03). This study suggested that the null GSTM1 genotype is associated with BC susceptibility in the Mexican population analyzed.

ABSTRACT. The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene plays an important role in the steps involved in the processing of amino acids. The analysis of polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene has revealed associations with cancer; in particular the C677T 4015-4026 (2015) polymorphism, which has been suggested to affect folate metabolism, DNA methylation, synthesis, and repair, and to contribute to tumor promotion in the mammary gland. We examined the role of the C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene by comparing the C677T genotypes of 339 healthy Mexican women with those of 497 Mexican women with breast cancer (BC). The genotype frequencies observed in the controls and patients with BC were 10 and 21% for 677TT; 41 and 36% for 677CT; and 49 and 43% for 677CC, respectively. The odds ratio (OR) for the 677TT genotype was 2.5, with a 95% confidence interval (95%CI) of 1.6-3.8; P = 0.0001. The positive association was also evident when the distributions of the 677TT genotype in control and patients affected within the following two categories were compared to alcohol consumption (OR = 0.41; 95%CI = 0.19-0.86; P = 0.018); and high level glutamate-oxaloacetate transaminase (SGOT) (OR = 0.36; 95%CI = 0.15-0.83, P = 0.017). These results suggest that the 677TT genotype of the C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene is associated with BC susceptibility in the Mexican population.

Introduction: Breast cancer is a common disease diagnosed in Mexican women and the first leading cause of death [1]. Heterogeneity in patients’ response to treatment is consistently observed across populations. Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) are involved in the metabolism of environmental carcinogens, reactive oxygen species and chemotherapeutic agents by catalyzing the glutathione with electrophilic compounds. The deletion of GSTT1 and GSTM1 genes result in loss of enzyme activity. A few studies evaluated the response to treatment and the polymorphisms of GSTT1 and GSTM1. The aim of this work is to make the association of the null polymorphisms of GSTT1 and GSTM1 with the response to chemotherapy basically doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide. Methods: The genotyping of thirty patients with breast cancer was made with the Polymerase chain reaction, to identify the polymorphisms of GSTT1 and GSTM1. We determine the status of Her-2 neu, estrogen and progesterone receptors, then the response to treatment was made with an ultrasound and pathological data. We made the association with the χi² statistics using a p≤0.05. Results: Using the Sigma Stat 3.5 program and the chi-squared analysis, we do not observe a significant association with the GSTT1+/GSTM1+, GSTT1-/GSTM1+ and GSTT1-/GSTM1-polymorphisms and the better or worse response to cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin. With the Her-2 neu, estrogen and progesterone receptors status, we neither found an association with the response to the therapy. Conclusion: This study suggests that GSTT1 and GSTM1 polymorphisms have no statistical significance between the genotype of women with advanced breast cancer and the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, but we can see a clear tendency toward better response with the null genotype