Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention, Vol 7, Issue 7 635-638, Copyright © 1998 by American Association for Cancer Research

ARTICLES

Absence of the glutathione S-transferase M1 gene increases cytochrome P4501A2 activity among frequent consumers of cruciferous vegetables in a Caucasian population

NM Probst-Hensch, SR Tannenbaum, KK Chan, GA Coetzee, RK Ross and MC Yu
Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine of the University of Basel, Switzerland.

The cancer protective effect of cruciferous vegetables has been attributed to induction of phase II enzymes. But cruciferous vegetables also induce cytochrome P4501A2 (CYP1A2), which catalyzes the metabolic activation of various procarcinogens, including aromatic amines in tobacco. Thus, frequent intake of cruciferous vegetables could also result in cancer-enhancing effects. GSTM1 is involved in the detoxification of various carcinogens, but it also enhances the excretion of isothiocyanates and possibly other enzyme inducers in cruciferous vegetables. We, therefore, hypothesized that GSTM1 null genotype might be associated with increased CYP1A2 activity among frequent consumers of cruciferous vegetables because the excretion of CYP1A2 inducers contained in these vegetables may be partially inhibited in the absence of the GSTM1 enzyme. Three hundred twenty-eight non-Hispanic white residents of Los Angeles County (265 males and 63 females) were genotyped for the presence or absence of GSTM1 alleles and phenotyped for CYP1A2 activity. Information on usual dietary habits was obtained from these subjects through in-person interviews. Among frequent (at least once a week) consumers of broccoli, GSTM1 null individuals exhibited a 21% higher geometric mean level of CYP1A2 activity relative to GSTM1 non-null individuals (5.24 versus 4.32, two-sided P = 0.01). No such difference was observed in subjects who consumed broccoli less frequently (two-sided P = 0.39). This interactive effect of GSTM1 genotype and vegetable intake on CYP1A2 activity also was observed when overall intake of the five cruciferous vegetables under study (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and mustard greens) was examined. Among weekly consumers of cruciferous vegetables, GSTM1 null individuals showed a 16% higher geometric mean level of CYP1A2 activity relative to GSTM1 non-null individuals (5.03 versus 4.33, two-sided P = 0.02), whereas no difference was evident among those who consumed cruciferous vegetables less frequently (two-sided P = 0.35). Our results suggest that cruciferous vegetables contain CYP1A2 inducers, which are deactivated in the presence of GSTM1.

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