The effect of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphism C677T on cervical cancer in Korean women.
OBJECTIVE
Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene is associated with DNA hypomethylation, an established hallmark of human cancer cells. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of MTHFR polymorphism C677T on cervical carcinogenesis in the context of other environmental factors, such as smoking, parity, and age at the first intercourse.


METHODS
The study subjects were patients who were pathologically diagnosed with cervical neoplasia and who had a positive result for human papillomavirus (N = 462), and they were compared to normal healthy women as normal controls (N = 454). Genotypes of the patients and control samples were assayed by single base primer extension assay using SNapShot assay kit.


RESULTS
Compared with MTHFR C/C, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for MTHFR T/T was 1.4 (0.9-2.3) for invasive cervical cancer and 1.3 (0.8-2.3) for cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) II or III. The risks for invasive cervical cancer were higher with less than 40 years old at diagnosis (2.1, 1.0-4.3), than with over 40 years old at diagnosis (1.2, 0.7-2.2). Current smoking women with early onset with MTHFR T/T had a 4.7 (0.6-36.2) times higher risk of cervical cancer. The risks of MTHFR T/T or C/T also increased for women with an early age of first intercourse or for women with two or more children, as compared with MTHFR C/C.


CONCLUSIONS
Polymorphisms of MTHFR are associated with a higher risk of developing cervical cancer, and in particular for an early onset of cervical carcinogenesis.
Sull
Jae Woong
JW
Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 134 Shinchon-dong, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul 120-752, Republic of Korea.
Jee
Sun Ha
SH
Yi
Sangwook
S
Lee
Jong Eun
JE
Park
Jong Sup
JS
Kim
Sook
S
Ohrr
Heechoul
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000201:enzymology; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics / Q000821:virology
D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)