The role of glutathione s-transferases in urinary tract tumors

Abstract

Exposure to potential carcinogens is among the etiological factors for renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the urinary bladder. RCC is very resistant, while TCC exhibits a high recurrence rate and multifocality. Cytosolic glutathione S-transferases (GST) are a superfamily of enzymes which protect normal cells by catalyzing conjugation reactions between electrophylic compounds, including carcinogens, and glutathione. Some GST enzymes posses hydroperoxidase activity. The most well characterized classes have been named Alpha (GSTA), Mu (GSTM), Pi (GSTP) and Theta (GSTT) and each of these classes contains several different isoenzymes. Several types of allelic variation have been identified within classes, among which GSTM1-null and GSTT1-null confer impaired catalytic activity. Individuals with the GSTM1-null genotype carry a substantially higher risk for bladder carcinogenesis. The effects of glutathione S-transferase T1 polymorphism on the increased susceptibility to RCC and TCC of urinary bladder depend on the presence of specific chemical exposures to compounds metabolized via the GSTT1-1 pathway. In the process of kidney cancerisation expression of GST alpha isoenzymes tends to decrease, consequently favoring a prooxidant environment necessary for the growth of RCC. GST pi enzyme activities are generally retained in RCC and might contribute to the chemotherapy resistance of RCC. In the malignant phenotype of TCC of the urinary bladder up regulation of various GST classes occurs. Up regulation of GSTT1-1 and GSTP1-1 might have important consequences on the tumor growth, by providing a reduced environment and inhibition of apoptotic pathways.

Keywords

• glutathione s-transferase
• renal cell carcinoma
• transitional cell carcinoma
• urinary bladder