GSTM1 null polymorphism and palmar dermatoglypics in oral leukoplakia.

Background: An individual's risk towards development of cancer depends not only on environmental factors or extrinsic exposure to carcinogens but also on individual's genetic susceptibility.

Aim: To determine two genetically established parameters such as prevalence of GSTM1 null polymorphism and analysis of Palmar dermatoglypics (PD) in patients with Oral Leukoplakia (OL) and Controls.

Materials And Methods: Group I (cases) 30 patients with established histopathological diagnosis of OL and Group II (controls) 30 patients without any habits of tobacco, alcohol usage and without OL were selected. After informed consent, the palm prints were recorded using a Canon PIXMA MP250 scanner and 2 ml of blood was collected and transported under cold cycle and taken for evaluation of GSTM1 null polymorphism using Multiplex PCR.

Results: There exists a highly significant difference in GSTM1 null polymorphism (p-0.002), Finger ridge patterns (arches- p-0.027, loops p-0.001, whorls p-0.001), hypothenar pattern (p-0.015), ATD angle (p-0.001), AB count (p-0.007) between cases and controls. Similarly, when analysing the GSTM1 null polymorphism with PD among cases, there exists a significant association between loops (p-0.001), AB count (p-0.058) and hypothenar pattern (p-0.076), respectively 43% of OL cases had alteration in both which implies that those patients are at a higher risk of developing cancer.

Conclusion: Not all patients who smoke or chew tobacco develop cancer. This could probably be due to the individual's genetic susceptibility. Environment gene interactions, in the form of GSTM1 polymorphism, and carcinogenesis, share links that can help in the prediction of risk for oral cancer development, and use of such markers can aid in prediction of oral cancer susceptibility in exposed individuals. Palm prints once formed do not change throughout life and are not influenced by environment. It can also serve as genetic markers to predict the risk of occurrence of oral cancer.