title: 5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms and the risk of pancreatic cancer.
abstract: To test the hypothesis that 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms modify the risk of pancreatic cancer, we conducted a hospital-based, case-control study involving 347 patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic adenocarcinoma and 348 healthy controls, frequency matched by age, sex, and race. MTHFR polymorphisms were determined using the PCR-RFLP method. Association of these polymorphisms with the risk of pancreatic cancer was estimated by unconditional logistic regression analysis. We found that the C667T (but not the A1298C) polymorphism had a significant main effect on the risk of pancreatic cancer. The frequencies of the MTHFR 667CC, 667CT, and 667TT genotypes were 49.5%, 38.6%, and 11.9%, respectively, among cases compared with 48.5%, 45.0%, and 6.5%, respectively, among controls. Individuals with the 667TT genotype displayed a 2-fold increased risk for pancreatic cancer compared with those with the CC/CT genotypes [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 2.14; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.14-4.01]. Multivariate analyses found that the effect of the 677TT genotype on the risk of pancreatic cancer was present among ever smokers (OR, 5.53; 95% CI, 2.0-15.3) and ever alcohol drinkers (OR, 3.16; 95% CI, 1.30-7.69) but not in never smokers (OR, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.33-2.06) and never drinkers (OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.56-3.62). Furthermore, a positive interaction between the MTHFR TT genotype and heavy smoking or heavy alcohol consumption was detected. The OR (95% CI) of pancreatic cancer was 6.83 (1.91-24.38) for heavy smokers among the TT carriers compared with never smokers with the CC/CT genotypes and 4.23 (0.88-20.3) for heavy drinkers with the TT genotype compared with nondrinkers with the CC/CT genotypes. These observations support a role for folate metabolism in pancreatic cancer, especially among smokers and heavy drinkers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, Unit 426, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. dli@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Donghui
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Maha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.forename: Yanan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiao
authors.forename: Ta-Hsu
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.forename: Douglas B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Melissa L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bondy
authors.forename: Peter W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Pisters
authors.forename: James L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Abbruzzese
authors.forename: Manal M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Hassan
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)