BackgroundAcute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent type of pediatric cancer, the causes of which are likely to involve an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. To evaluate the effects of the genotypic polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) on childhood ALL risk in Taiwan, two well-known polymorphic genotypes of MTHFR, C677T (rs1801133) and A1298C (rs1801131), were analyzed to examine the extent of their associations with childhood ALL susceptibility and to discuss the MTHFR genotypic contribution to childhood ALL risk among different populations.Methodology/Principal FindingsIn total, 266 patients with childhood ALL and an equal number of non-cancer controls recruited were genotyped utilizing PCR-RFLP methodology. The MTHFR C677T genotype, but not the A1298C, was differently distributed between childhood ALL and control groups. The CT and TT of MTHFR C677T genotypes were significantly more frequently found in controls than in childhood ALL patients (odds ratios=0.60 and 0.48, 95% confidence intervals=0.42–0.87 and 0.24–0.97, respectively). As for gender, the boys carrying the MTHFR C677T CT or TT genotype conferred a lower odds ratio of 0.51 (95% confidence interval=0.32–0.81, P=0.0113) for childhood ALL. As for age, those equal to or greater than 3.5 years of age at onset of disease carrying the MTHFR C677T CT or TT genotype were of lower risk (odds ratio= 0.43 and 95% confidence interval=0.26–0.71, P=0.0016).ConclusionsOur results indicated that the MTHFR C677T T allele was a protective biomarker for childhood ALL in Taiwan, and the association was more significant in male patients and in patients 3.5 years of age or older at onset of disease.

Background/Aim: Mounting evidence has shown that miRNAs play a critical role in the regulation of hematopoiesis of cell proliferation and apoptosis as well as in tumorigenesis. The miR146a rs2910164 polymorphism, which is closely responsive for its expression, has been reported to associate with the risk of several solid cancers. The study aimed at examining the association of the it with susceptibility to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: We recruited 266 patients with childhood ALL and 266 healthy controls, and rs2910164 genotypes were determined by the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology. Results: The allele G was associated with decreased childhood ALL risk (OR=0.66, 95%CI=0.52-0.85, p=0.0011). Consistently, the GG genotype was associated with a decreased susceptibility (OR=0.40, 95%CI=0.23-0.67, p=0.0004). Patients with CG and GG genotypes were of earlier onset than those with CC genotype (p=0.0255 and p=0.0001). Conclusion: MiR146a rs2910164 G allele serves as a protective marker for childhood ALL in Taiwan.

The genotypes of MMP-7 A-181G may play an indirect role in determining personal susceptibility to CRC and prognosis. The further genotyping work on MMP-7 and other genes (such as other MMPs, oncogenes and tumor suppression genes) on CRC susceptibility and prognosis, should be taken into consideration spontaneously in the precision medicine era.