title: The association of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotypes with the risk of childhood leukemia in Taiwan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most prevalent type of pediatric cancer, the causes of which are likely to involve an interaction between genetic and environmental factors. To evaluate the effects of the genotypic polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) on childhood ALL risk in Taiwan, two well-known polymorphic genotypes of MTHFR, C677T (rs1801133) and A1298C (rs1801131), were analyzed to examine the extent of their associations with childhood ALL susceptibility and to discuss the MTHFR genotypic contribution to childhood ALL risk among different populations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 266 patients with childhood ALL and an equal number of non-cancer controls recruited were genotyped utilizing PCR-RFLP methodology. The MTHFR C677T genotype, but not the A1298C, was differently distributed between childhood ALL and control groups. The CT and TT of MTHFR C677T genotypes were significantly more frequently found in controls than in childhood ALL patients (odds ratios=0.60 and 0.48, 95% confidence intervals=0.42-0.87 and 0.24-0.97, respectively). As for gender, the boys carrying the MTHFR C677T CT or TT genotype conferred a lower odds ratio of 0.51 (95% confidence interval=0.32-0.81, P=0.0113) for childhood ALL. As for age, those equal to or greater than 3.5 years of age at onset of disease carrying the MTHFR C677T CT or TT genotype were of lower risk (odds ratio= 0.43 and 95% confidence interval=0.26-0.71, P=0.0016).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicated that the MTHFR C677T T allele was a protective biomarker for childhood ALL in Taiwan, and the association was more significant in male patients and in patients 3.5 years of age or older at onset of disease.
authors: Department of Pediatrics, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Jen-Sheng
authors: JS
authors: Pei
authors: Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Chin-Mu
authors: CM
authors: Hsu
authors: Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC; Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Chia-Wen
authors: CW
authors: Tsai
authors: Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Wen-Shin
authors: WS
authors: Chang
authors: Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Hong-Xue
authors: HX
authors: Ji
authors: Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Chieh-Lun
authors: CL
authors: Hsiao
authors: Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Chia-En
authors: CE
authors: Miao
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Taoyuan General Hospital, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Yuan-Nian
authors: YN
authors: Hsu
authors: Terry Fox Cancer Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC; Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC; Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, ROC.
authors: Da-Tian
authors: DT
authors: Bau
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000483:Alleles; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D012306:Risk; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)