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Diet, GSTM1 and GSTT1 and head and neck cancer
M M Gaudet1, A F Olshan, C Poole
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. gaudet@email.unc.edu
Abstract:
A decreased incidence of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) associated with fruit and vegetable intake may act through chemopreventive compounds, which may be more available to persons homozygous for the deletion genotypes of the glutathione S-transferase (GST). We evaluated interactions between fruits and vegetables and GSTM1 and GSTT1 on incidence of SCCHN using data from a case-control study of 149 cases and 180 age- and gender-matched controls. After adjustment for age, gender, race, tobacco and alcohol use, weekly consumption of four or more servings of raw vegetables was inversely associated with SCCHN [odds ratio (OR) = 0.66, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 0.30-1.3]. Contrary to expectation, relatively high intake of cooked vegetables (14 or more weekly servings) and legumes (two or more weekly servings) were associated with increased incidence (OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.1-6.0; OR = 2.5, 95% CI 1.2-5.2, respectively). In general, our results did not suggest a clear or consistent pattern of modification by GST genotypes of the association between foods and SCCHN. For example, eating cruciferous vegetables, foods of a priori interest, and having the GSTM1-deletion genotype was not associated with the expected reduction in incidence compared with abstaining from cruciferous vegetable intake and having the GSTM1-present genotype. Among non-consumers of cruciferous vegetables, the GSTM1-deletion genotype was inversely associated with SCCHN (OR = 0.55, 95% CI 0.07-4.2). Raw vegetables were associated with a reduction in incidence only among persons with the GSTM1-deletion genotype (OR = 0.69, 95% CI 0.29-1.6), whereas either factor alone had a null association. Future research of GST-diet interactions and SCCHN would benefit from larger, population-based studies.
Insights
Fruit and vegetable intake may reduce head and neck cancer risk, particularly raw vegetables. However, high intake of cooked vegetables and legumes showed increased risk, with no clear gene-diet interaction observed for glutathione S-transferase (GST) genotypes.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Nutritional Science
- Genetics
Background:
- Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN) incidence may be influenced by diet, specifically fruit and vegetable consumption.
- Glutathione S-transferase (GST) genotypes, particularly deletion polymorphisms in GSTM1 and GSTT1, might modulate the effects of chemopreventive dietary compounds.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the interaction between dietary intake of fruits and vegetables and GSTM1/GSTT1 genotypes on the incidence of SCCHN.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study was conducted with 149 SCCHN cases and 180 matched controls.
- Dietary intake, including raw vegetables, cooked vegetables, legumes, and cruciferous vegetables, was assessed.
- Interactions between dietary factors and GSTM1/GSTT1 deletion genotypes were analyzed for SCCHN risk, adjusting for confounders like age, gender, race, tobacco, and alcohol use.
Main Results:
- Higher consumption of raw vegetables (≥4 servings/week) was inversely associated with SCCHN risk (OR=0.66).
- Conversely, high intake of cooked vegetables (≥14 servings/week) and legumes (≥2 servings/week) were associated with increased SCCHN risk (OR=2.5 for both).
- No consistent modification pattern was observed for GST genotypes regarding the association between most dietary factors and SCCHN. Raw vegetable intake showed a reduced incidence only among those with the GSTM1-deletion genotype.
Conclusions:
- The study found an inverse association between raw vegetable intake and SCCHN risk, but unexpectedly, increased risk with high cooked vegetable and legume intake.
- Evidence for a significant gene-diet interaction between GST genotypes and dietary factors on SCCHN incidence was limited and inconsistent.
- Larger, population-based studies are recommended for future research on GST-diet interactions in SCCHN.
