[A study on the association of MTHFR C677T polymorphism with genetic susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the possible association of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism with genetic susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in a Chinese population.


METHODS
Five hundred and eight HCC cases and 543 controls were studied. The MTHFR genotypes were determined using a PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) method. Odds ratios (ORs) for HCC and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) from unconditional logistic regression models were used to evaluate relative risks. Potential HCC risk factors were included in the logistic regression models as covariates in the multivariate analyses on genotypes and HCC risks.


RESULTS
No overall significant difference in genotype distribution was found when comparing all HCC cases to controls (P = 0.258). However, a significantly increased risk of HCC was observed among T/T homozygotes (adjusted OR = 1.66, 95% CI = 1.08-2.54, P<0.05) compared to C-allele carriers (CC or CT). When stratified with sex, this trend was more prominent in females, but not in males. Females who were homozygous (T/T) for the C677T polymorphism were at a 2.64-fold (95% CI = 1.19-5.88, P<0.05) increased risk of developing HCC when compared to C-allele carriers. However in males, T/T homozygotes had a similar risk with C-allele carriers.


CONCLUSIONS
The MTHFR C677T polymorphism may be associated with a higher HCC risk in females, but not in males in this population.
Department of Pathology, Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai 200438, China.
Zhong-zheng
ZZ
Zhu
Wen-ming
WM
Cong
Shu-fang
SF
Liu
Zhi-hong
ZH
Xian
Wei-qing
WQ
Wu
D000368:Aged; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)