title: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism in patients with gastric and colorectal cancer in a Korean population.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study was designed to investigate an association between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism and the risk of gastric and colorectal cancer in the Korean population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a population-based large-scale case-control study involving 2,213 patients with newly diagnosed gastric cancer, 1,829 patients with newly diagnosed colorectal cancer, and 1,700 healthy controls. Genotyping was performed with peripheral blood DNA for MTHFR C677T polymorphisms. The statistical significance was estimated by logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MTHFR C677T frequencies of CC, CT, and TT genotypes were 35.2%, 47.5%, and 17.3% among stomach cancer, 34%, 50.5%, and 15.5% in colorectal cancer, and 31.8%, 50.7%, and 17.5% in the controls, respectively. The MTHFR 677TT genotype showed a weak opposite association with colorectal cancer compared to the homozygous CC genotype [adjusted age and sex odds ratio (OR) = 0.792, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.638-0.984, P = 0.035]. Subjects with the MTHFR 677CT showed a significantly reduced risk of gastric cancer compared whose with the 677CC genotype (age- and sex-adjusted OR = 0.810; 95% CI = 0.696-0.942, P = 0.006). We also observed no significant interactions between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and smoking or drinking in the risk of gastric and colorectal cancer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The T allele was found to provide a weak protective association with gastric cancer and colorectal cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive Medicine, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, South Korea.
authors.forename: Lian-Hua
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Min-Ho
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Sun-Seog
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kweon
authors.forename: Hee Nam
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hye-Rim
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jin-Mei
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.forename: Jin-Su
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hyun Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Jun Eul
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hyeong-Rok
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Young-Kyu
authors.initials: YK
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Soo-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D005787:Gene Frequency; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010641:Phenotype; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000208:ethnology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)