Abstract: Objective To investigate the relationship between gene polymorphisms of glutathione-S-transferase M1 (GSTM1) and T1 (GSTT1) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)-clustering family.Methods  the genotype of GSTM1 and GSTT1 in the HCC-clustering family and high-incidence pedigrees of HCC were detected with PCR.Results The frequencies of GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null genotype were 68.8% and 47.5% in the group of HCC-clustering family respectively, which were significantly higher than those of the none-clustering HCC family (54.6% and 30.8%) and control group (53.3% and 25.3%).The same tendency was also found between highincidence pedigrees of HCC and control pedigrees. With the increasing number of HCC patient in familial history, the frequencies of GSTM1 null and GSTT1 null genotype increased too.The risk of HCC increased with the GSTM1 null genotype combined GSTT1 null genotype. Conclusion  Gene polymorphisms of GSTM1 and GSTT1 are associated with the susceptibility of HCC-clustering family. GSTM1 null genotype and GSTT1 null genotype are the risk factors in HCC-clustering family.

Key words: Hepatocellular carcinoma, Genetic susceptibility, Familial clustering, Gene polymorphism, Glutathione-S-transferase