No abstract

Background: The C677T mutation in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is associated with reduced enzyme activity, and a significant increase in serum homocysteine (Hcy) concentration. MTHFR C677T polymorphism was likely to play an important role in the susceptibility to OSCC. Methods:In this case-control study, we genotyped 150 OSCC patients and 150 controls, using a PCR-RFLP method. The serum total homocysteine levels were quantitatively detected using commercial enzyme immunoassay (EIA) kits from Axis-Shied Diagnostics Ltd, UK.Results: In the present study heterozygous CT genotype was found statistically significantly more prevalent in patients than in controls [OR 3.38,.004], whereas TT genotype was not statistically significant [OR 2.01,. CC genotype may be protective for OSCC [OR 0.30, 95%CI 0.13-0.67, P-value 0.003]. The mean serum tHcy levels (mmol/L) <15.0 were slightly higher in CT genotype patients (11.51±1.37) than controls (10.6±2.07), whereas the mean serum tHcy levels (Mmol/L) >15.0 were higher in cases in all three CC (26.81±7.51), CT (29.26±7.67) and TT (48.85±28.07) genotypes when compared to CC (17.85±2.18), CT (17±1.0) and TT (0) with controls. However, significant variation of homocysteine levels was not observed between the genotypes of OSCC patients and controls. Conclusion:The results of the present study indicate that the frequency of MTHFR 677 'T' allele is rare and CT genotype may be associated with OSCC risk. However, the polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene (677C/T) that are reported to modulate homocysteine levels were not associated with OSCC.

Leptin plays an important role in mammary tumor formation (Candida N Pereral et al., 2008 1). It is secreted by adipose tissue that acts on the brain to regulate energy expenditure and food intake and has an important role in energy balance, insulin pathway and inflammation. Hence the aim of our investigation has been to study the impact of Lep-2548G/A polymorphism in breast cancer as compared to matched controls. This study mainly focuses on the polymorphism leptin gene for variants by a screening this gene in south Indian obese subjects (n = 154 obese breast cancer cases and n=145 obese controls). We utilized PCR-RFLP based assay to evaluate the association between the Gln2548Arg polymorphism of the leptin gene and breast cancer risk in a case control study. The distributions of all three genotypes GG, GA and AA in breast cancer cases were 18.8%, 44.8%, and 36.4% compared to that of the controls, 33.0%, 29.6%, and 37.4%. We found that postmenopausal breast cancer cases showed statistically significant association with GA genotype when compared with premenopausal women without the disease (p= 0.001). This difference was between the cases and controls in the Gln2548Arg genotypes. Our findings suggest that the LEP Gln2548Arg polymorphism may be a useful biomarker associated with the risk of breast cancer women in Indian population.