The Impact of Beta-Catenin and glutathione-S-transferase Gene Polymorphisms on the Treatment Results and Survival of Multiple Myeloma Patients

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable disease, however, novel therapeutic agents has significantly improved its prognosis. In this study we analyzed if polymorphisms in the genes of β-catenin and glutathione-S-transferase have affected the clinical course, treatment response and progression-free survival (PFS) of MM patients. Ninety-seven MM patients were involved who were administered immunomodulatory drug (Imid) or alkylating agent-based therapy. β-catenin (CTNNB1, rs4135385 A > G, rs4533622 A > C) and glutathione-S-transferase (GSTP1 105, GSTP1 114) gene polymorphisms were analyzed by Light SNiP assays. The distribution of CTNNB1 (rs4135385) AA, AG and GG genotypes were 48.4%, 47.4% and 4,1%, respectively. Patients with AA genotype were older than those who carried G allele (64.5 vs. 61.0 years of age, p < 0.05). Response to Imid-based therapies (p < 0.05) and PFS (p = 0.032) were significantly more favourable in the AA homozygous group. The other polymorphism (rs4533622) of β-catenin gene did not markedly influence these clinical parameters, although MM was diagnosed at significantly younger age in subjects with CC genotype compared to AG/AA combined genotypes (59.1 vs. 65.7 years, p = 0.015). When GSTP1 polymorphisms were investigated, no such significant associations were observed. Our results demonstrate that the polymorphism of β-catenin gene (rs4135385) may be an independent predictive factor in MM.