title: Involvement of gene polymorphisms of the folate pathway enzymes in gene expression and anticancer drug sensitivity using the NCI-60 panel as a model.
abstract: Folate, a vitamin of the B group involved in one-carbon group metabolism, plays an important role in DNA synthesis and methylation. Several polymorphisms in the genes involved in folate uptake and biotransformations have been shown to be associated to the risk of cancer and to anticancer drug response. We studied common polymorphisms in MTHFR (N(5,10)-methylene-tetrahydrofolate reductase), MTHFD1 (N(5,10)-methylene-tetrahydrofolate dehydrogenase), MTR (methionine synthetase) and SLC19A1 (reduced folate carrier) in the panel of 60 human tumour cell lines established by the NCI for anticancer drug screening and we tentatively associated these polymorphisms with gene expression and drug cytotoxicity as extracted from the public database of the Developmental Therapeutic Programme. We observed a consistent and highly significant association between the presence of the variant C allele of the A>C1298 polymorphism of MTHFR and the sensitivity to many anticancer drugs belonging to the classes of antifolates, antimetabolites, alkylating agents and, to a lesser extent, topoisomerase inhibitors. In contrast, the T variant allele of the C>T677 variation of MTHFR was rather associated to lower sensitivity of the cell lines towards anticancer drugs (alkylating agents, antifolates and antimetabolites) but with much lower effects than the A>C1298 variation. The polymorphisms of the other genes studied were not associated with differences in anticancer drug sensitivity, but the expression of the SLC19A1 gene was significantly correlated with the sensitivity to several drugs (antifolates, thiopurines, nitrosoureas, and DACH-platinum drugs). We concluded that the NCI-60 panel may constitute a good starting point for implementing clinical studies aimed at discovering and validating predictive genetic markers of drug efficacy and/or toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Pharmacologie et Toxicologie Clinique, Hôpital Lapeyronie et Université de Montpellier 1, 34295 Montpellier, France.
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Charasson
authors.forename: Dominique
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hillaire-Buys
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Solassol
authors.forename: Armelle
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laurand-Quancard
authors.forename: Frédéric
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pinguet
authors.forename: Valérie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Le Morvan
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Robert
mesh_terms: D013766:5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000235:genetics*; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics*; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans; D008754:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase (NADP) / Q000235:genetics; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D005819:Genetic Markers; D015778:Minor Histocompatibility Antigens; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2); C539735:MTHFD1 protein, human; D008754:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Dehydrogenase (NADP); D013766:5-Methyltetrahydrofolate-Homocysteine S-Methyltransferase