Glutathione S-transferase M1, T1, and P1 polymorphisms and thyroid cancer risk: a meta-analysis

Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) genetic variants have been explored extensively as a predictive factor for cancer etiology. This meta-analysis aimed to examine the associations GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 genetic polymorphisms with thyroid cancer risk. PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and HuGNet database were searched up to November 2011 using the appropriate terms. Twelve studies regarding GSTM1 null polymorphism (1569 cases and 2907 controls), 11 studies concerning GSTT1 null polymorphism (1515 cases and 2863 controls), and 8 studies on GSTP1 Ile105Val (965 cases and 1604 controls) were included in the meta-analysis. The random effects odds ratio was 1.07 (95% CI: 0.88-1.31; I(2) = 54.1%, P for heterogeneity = 0.013) for the GSTM1 null vs. present genotype and 1.08 (95% CI: 0.75-1.57; I(2) = 81.4%, P for heterogeneity < 0.001) for the GSTT1 null vs. present genotype, and 1.02 (95% CI: 0.70-1.49; I(2) = 74.6%, P for heterogeneity < 0.001) for the GSTP1 Val/Val+Val/Ile vs. Ile/Ile genotype. Similarly, no significant associations were demonstrated for subgroup analyses performed by ethnicity and histological type. In conclusion, these three polymorphisms are unlikely to be major determinants of susceptibility to thyroid cancer. Reasons for potential heterogeneity of effects, which could include true biologic heterogeneity, publication bias, or chance, deserve further investigation. The relationship between these three genes and thyroid carcinoma must be evaluated further with gene-gene and gene-environment interactions.