Association study between catechol-O-methyltransferase polymorphisms and uterine leiomyomas in a Japanese population.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate a possible association between uterine leiomyomas and catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) polymorphisms in a Japanese population.


METHODS
We compared the allele frequencies and genotype distributions of the exon 4 NlaIII restriction site polymorphism (RSP), the P2 promoter HindIII RSP at -1217, and the exon 6 BglI RSP in the COMT gene in 250 leiomyoma cases and 182 controls using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis.


RESULTS
No significant differences in allele frequencies and genotype distributions of the exon 4 NlaIII RSP, the P2 promoter HindIII RSP at -1217, and the exon 6 BglI RSP were found between uterine leiomyoma cases and controls. Moreover, no associations were noted between these three polymorphisms in COMT genes and leiomyoma size or a family history of uterine leiomyomas.


CONCLUSIONS
COMT gene polymorphisms are unlikely to be associated with an increased risk of uterine leiomyomas in a Japanese population.
Morikawa
J
J
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan.
Yoshida
S
S
Kennedy
S
S
Takemura
N
N
Sugimoto
M
M
Kitao
K
K
Deguchi
M
M
Ohara
N
N
Maruo
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D018231:Leiomyomatosis / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length / Q000235:genetics*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase