title: MTHFR polymorphisms and risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: Folate availability is critical for DNA integrity, required for the transfer of methyl groups in the biosynthesis of thymidilate. Reduction of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate, a donor for methylating dUMP to dTMP in DNA synthesis, to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, the primary methyl donor for methionine synthesis, is catalyzed by 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR). The MTHFR polymorphisms C677T and A1298C have been shown in some studies to alter the risk of a range of different malignancies. We evaluated the role of the C677T and A1298C polymorphisms on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) risk by genotyping 832 patients and 886 healthy controls. The odds ratio of CLL associated with 677CT and 677TT genotypes were 1.02 [95% confidence interval (95% CI), 0.83-1.24] and 0.90 (95% CI, 0.66-1.24), respectively. The odds ratio of CLL associated with 1298AC and 1298CC genotypes were 0.97 (95% CI, 0.79-1.18) and 0.88 (95% CI, 0.62-1.24), respectively. This data indicate that the MTHFR polymorphisms C677T and A1298C do not significantly contribute to an inherited genetic susceptibility to CLL.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cancer Genetics, Institute of Cancer Research, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5NG, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Matthew F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Rudd
authors.forename: Gabrielle S
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Sellick
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allinson
authors.forename: Estella
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matutes
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Catovsky
authors.forename: Richard S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Houlston
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)