Objective: To investigate the impact of GSTM1, GSTT1 and NQO1 genotypes on susceptibility to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and recurrent chromosome translocations of AML.
Methods: GSTT1, GSTM1 and NQO1 genotypes were detected in 228 adult patients with de novo AML and 241 controls by PCR or PCR-RFLP.
Results: The frequency of GSTM1 null genotype in the AML patients was 62.3%, significantly higher than that in the normal controls (52.7%, P = 0.036), however, no significant difference was found in the incidence of GSTT1 null genotype. The frequencies of NQO1(C609T) C/T and T/T genotypes were 53.1% and 25.0% respectively among the total AML patients (53.1% and 25.0% respectively), 64.3% and 25.0% respectively among the AML patients with t (8; 21) (q22; q22)/AML-ETO fusion gene, and 57.1% and 26.0% respectively among the AML patient with t (15; 17) (q22; q11)/PML-RARalpha fusion gene, all significantly higher than those in the controls (49.4% and 13.7% respectively). The relative risk of t (8; 21) (q22; q22)/AML-ETO (+) AML was 4.487 (95% CI: 1.282-15.705) for the subjects with NQO1(C609T) C/T genotype, and was 6.293 (95% CI: 1.536-25.782) for the subjects with NQO1(C609T) T/T genotype. The relative risk of t (15; 17) (q22; q11)/PML-RARalpha (+) AML was 2.531 (95% CI: 1.286-4.981) for the subjects with NQO1(C609T) C/T genotype, and was 4.149 (95% CI: 1.856-9.275) for the subjects with NQO1(C609T) T/T genotype.
Conclusion: Determination of the NQO1(C609T) genotypes may be used as a stratification marker to predict high-risk individuals for AML, especially for AML with t (8; 21) (q22; q22)/AML-ETO fusion gene and t (15; 17) (q22; q11)/PML-RARalpha fusion gene.