The GSTT1 gene encodes a key enzyme involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics and its polymorphisms have been associated with individual susceptibility to various malignancies. Numerous molecular epidemiological studies have been performed to investigate the association between GSTT1 gene polymorphisms and lung cancer susceptibility; however, the results of previous studies were inconsistent. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to conduct a meta-analysis in order to derive a more precise estimation of the association in the East Asian populations. The meta-analysis included 7,415 lung cancer cases and 6,084 controls from 26 published studies in East Asia, which were selected from the PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases, up to March 20, 2014. Using crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), a statistically significant association was identified between the GSTT1 null genotype and lung cancer in the East Asian populations (OR=1.17; 95% CI, 1.09-1.25; Pheterogeneity=0.003). Furthermore, subgroup analyses revealed that the lung cancer risk in smokers carrying the GSTT1 null genotype was significantly increased compared with non-smokers (OR=1.71; 95% CI, 1.04-2.81; Pheterogeneity=0.002). Thus, the GSTT1 null genotype may increase the risk of lung cancer among the East Asian populations.
Keywords: glutathione S-transferase θ1; lung cancer; meta-analysis; polymorphism.