Glutathione S-transferases (GSTT1 and GSTM1) genes polymorphisms and the treatment response and prognosis in Chinese patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia

We investigated the prognostic significance of genetic polymorphism for glutathione S-transferase theta 1 (GSTT1) and glutathione S-transferase mu 1 (GSTM1) in 254 Chinese patients with de novo acute myeloid leukemia (AML) other than AML-M3. The early death rate after the initiation of chemotherapy was similar between the GSTT1+/GSTM1+ group and GSTT1−/GSTM1− group. The complete remission (CR) rate was higher in GSTM1+ group than in GSTM1− group (OR = 1.88; P = 0.03) after the first course of chemotherapy, and was higher in GSTT1+ group than in GSTT1− group (OR = 2.20; P = 0.02) after the second course of chemotherapy. Overall survival and disease-free survival of CR patients in GSTT1 and GSTM1 double present group was better than in GSTT1- and/or GSTM1-group (P = 0.03 and 0.02, respectively). Our preliminary results warrant testing of a larger number of patients.