The Association of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Genotypes with the Risk of Childhood Leukemia in Taiwan

Abstract

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.

The Contribution of Matrix Metalloproteinase-8 Promoter Polymorphism to Oral Cancer Susceptibility

“…Genomic DNA from the peripheral blood leucocytes of each participant was prepared applying the QIAamp Blood Mini Kit (Blossom, Taipei, Taiwan) and stored at -80˚C until processed as per our previous standard procedure ( [31][32][33]. The sequences of primers and the restriction enzymes for MMP-8 genotyping are designed by Terry Fox Cancer Research Lab and summarized in Table II.…”

The Contribution of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 Genotypes to Hepatocellular Carcinoma Susceptibility in Taiwan

“…The genomic DNA from the peripheral blood leucocytes of each investigated subject was prepared applying the QIAamp Blood Mini Kit (Blossom, Taipei, Taiwan) and stored at −80˚C until processed as per our recent publications (25)(26)(27)(28). The sequences of primers and the restriction enzymes for MMP1 promoter 1607 genotyping are the same as our previous publication (29)(30)(31).…”

FEN1 −69G>A and +4150G>T polymorphisms and breast cancer risk

“…Pei et al (20) investigated the impact of two functional polymorphisms of FEN1 on the risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It was found that the AG and AA genotypes of the rs174538 variant, but not the rs4246215 variant, significantly decreased the risk of childhood ALL.…”

“…The gene is polymorphic and two functional variants, -69G>A (rs174538) and +4150G>T (rs4246215), have become points of interest. Previous studies have proposed that the two variants in FEN1 may function as biomarkers for BC, glioma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and esophageal, gastric, colorectal and lung cancer, as well as childhood leukemia (12,(17)(18)(19)(20).…”