ABSTRACT: GSTM1 Null Genotype, Red Meat Consumption and Breast
    Cancer Risk (The Netherlands)
    [04/19/2004; Cancer Causes and Control]

Objective: We studied whether polymorphisms in N-acetyltransferase
1 and 2 and Glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1 genes
modify the association between meat consumption and breast
cancer. 

Methods: A nested case control was conducted in 
a Dutch prospective cohort. Breast cancer cases (229)
and controls (264) were frequency matched on age, town
and menopausal status. 

Results: There is no relation between any type of 
meat consumption (i.e., total meat, processed meat, 
fresh meat, red meat and white meat) and breast 
cancer risk. Neither presence of NAT1 or NAT2 rapid
genotype, or GSTT1 null genotype, alone or in combination
with meat consumption affects breast cancer risk. Absence
of GSTM1 shows 46% increased breast cancer risk (OR =
1.46 (95% confidence interval, 95% CI = 1.02-2.09)). When
stratifying according to combined .GSTM1 genotype-meat
consumption. categories, breast cancer risk is slightly
increased with consumption of red meat both in women with
genotype GSTM1 presence (OR = 1.49 and 1.75 for intermediate
and high versus low consumption) and in GSTM1 null genotype
(OR = 1.18 and 1.02). These increases are statistically
not significant. In postmenopausal women a suggestion
of an effect of red meat consumption is observed: effects
are slightly stronger, although still not statistically
significant and without a clear dose-response relation:
OR = 1.79 (95% CI = 0.92-3.50) and 1.46 (1.46 (95% CI
= 0.76-2.82) for intermediate and high compared to low
red meat consumption respectively. Reliable evaluation
of interaction is not possible due to the small number
of cancers. 

Conclusion: GSTM1 null genotype increases breast cancer 
risk. Red meat consumption slightly increases breast 
cancer risk, but the relation is not statistically
significant and GSTM1, NAT1, NAT2 and GSTT1 polymorphisms
do not modify this relation. 

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