Association between glutathione s-transferase p1, t1, and m1 genetic polymorphism and survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

(GST) superfamily are important in cellular defense mecha-nisms. These enzymes attach reduced glutathione to electro-philic groups in a wide variety of toxic compounds, including chemotherapeutic agents. Certain polymorphisms in GSTs are associated with changes in enzyme activity, sensitivity to chemotherapy, and overall patient survival. In a retrospec-tive study, we investigated associations between common polymorphisms in genes for several GST subclasses (GSTP1, GSTT1, GSTM1) and survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receiving 5-fluorouracil (5-FU)/oxaliplatin chemotherapy. Methods: During 1998–2000, 107 previously treated patients with advanced colorectal cancer received 5-FU/oxaliplatin combination chemotherapy. Associations between deletion polymorphisms in GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes and between a polymorphism in the GSTP1 gene tha