Objective: To study the relationship between glutathione S transferase M1(GST mu) gene deletion and leukemia in workers exposed to benzene.
Methods: A matched population-based case-control survey with multivariate Logistic regression analysis was conducted in this study.
Results: In the population of 34 patients and their matched controls, the absence of the GST mu genotype conferred odds ratio of 3.6. It suggested that GST mu was an important determinant of heterogeneity in individual susceptibility to leukemia associated with exposure to benzene. The single-variance analysis indicated that these markedly significant factors were GST mu gene deletion, GST mu isoenzyme activity, duration of exposure, GST isoenzyme activity, smoking quantity and average concentration of benzene in workshop air. The multivariate analysis indicated that these markedly significant factors were GST mu gene deletion, duration of exposure to benzene and GST mu isoenzyme activity.
Conclusion: GST mu gene deletion may be associated with increased risk of leukemia in workers exposed to benzene and is one of genetically determined factors.