The methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C-->T polymorphism and lung cancer risk in a Chinese population.
BACKGROUND
We examined the relationship of the MTHFR C677T genotype with the risk of lung cancer in a nested case-control study conducted in a cancer screening follow-up study in Taiwan.


METHODS
A total of 59 histologically confirmed lung cancer cases and 232 cancer-free controls were recruited between July 1990 and December 2000. The MTHFR C677T genotype was determined by a PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assay.


RESULTS
The MTHFR 677T variant genotype, including 677CT and 677TT, was observed in 39% of cases and 47% of controls. The resultant adjusted odds ratio (OR) was 0.71 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.39-1.30). The inverse association of the MTHFR 677T variant genotype with lung cancer risk was apparent in both smokers and nonsmokers.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that the MTHFR 677T variant genotype reduces the risk of lung cancer. Larger studies incorporating dietary folate intake and the variant genotypes are needed to clarify our results.
School of Public Health, National Defense Medical Center, No. 161, Section 6 Min-Chuan East Road, Taipei 114, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Yi-Lin
YL
Jeng
Mei-Hsuan
MH
Wu
Han-Bin
HB
Huang
Wei-Yu
WY
Lin
San-Lin
SL
You
Tang-Yuan
TY
Chu
Chien-Jen
CJ
Chen
Chien-An
CA
Sun
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)