Homocysteine levels are associated with cervical  cancer independent of methylene tetrahydrofolate  reductase gene (MTHFR) polymorphisms in Indian  population.
Human papillomavirus is considered to be a major aetiological factor but is not sufficient for the development of cervical cancer. Other host factors, including altered homocysteine levels, a functional marker of folate inadequacy, might contribute to the carcinogenic process. Herein we investigated the potential association of homocysteine levels and MTHFR polymorphisms with cervical cancer in 203 histologically confirmed cases including 39 precancer cases and 231 healthy controls with normal cervical cytology. Both patients and controls were screened for human papillomavirus infection. We found that homocysteine and consequently cysteine levels were significantly higher in cases, both cancer and precancer (p < 0.001) than controls. However, polymorphisms in the MTHFR gene (677C/T and 1298A/C) that are reported to modulate homocysteine levels were not associated with disease. Thus, our study establishes an association of total homocysteine levels with the risk of developing carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
Divisions of Molecular Genetics & Biochemistry and 3Molecular Oncology, Institute of Cytology & Preventive Oncology (ICMR), Noida 201301, India.
Indu
I
Kohaar
J
J
Kumar
Nisha
N
Thakur
Showket
S
Hussain
Md Kausar
MK
Niyaz
Bhudev C
BC
Das
Shantanu
S
Sengupta
Mausumi
M
Bharadwaj
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D030361:Papillomavirus Infections; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011230:Precancerous Conditions; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*
D015415:Biomarkers; D006710:Homocysteine; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)