Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthase polymorphisms are not associated with breast cancer risk or phenotype.
BACKGROUND
Aberrations in folate metabolism contribute to the risk of cancer via effects on the synthesis, methylation and repair of DNA. Functional genetic variants in the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and thymidylate synthase (TS) genes may be risk factors for breast cancer because of their central roles in cellular folate metabolism.


METHODS
The MTHFR C677T and TS tandem repeat polymorphisms were investigated in a case-control study of 339 women with breast cancer for possible associations with the risk of this disease, tumor phenotype and patient survival.


RESULTS
The MTHFR and TS polymorphisms were not associated with a significantly increased risk of breast cancer. No associations were observed with any pathological or molecular feature and neither polymorphism was associated with survival from this disease.


CONCLUSIONS
The common MTHFR C677T and TS enhancer region polymorphisms were not risk factors for breast cancer in this patient cohort nor were they associated with phenotypic features or with prognosis.
Grieu
Fabienne
F
Department of Radiation Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands 6009, Australia.
Powell
Brenda
B
Beilby
John
J
Iacopetta
Barry
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D013940:Thymidylate Synthase / Q000235:genetics*
D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); D013940:Thymidylate Synthase