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Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism: Association with risk for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia and response during the initial phase of chemotherapy in greek patients
Author(s) -
Chatzidakis Konstantinos,
Goulas Antonis,
AthanassiadouPiperopoulou Fani,
Fidani Liana,
Koliouskas Dimitrios,
Mirtsou Vassiliki
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
pediatric blood and cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.116
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1545-5017
pISSN - 1545-5009
DOI - 10.1002/pbc.20574
Subject(s) - methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase , medicine , genotyping , chemotherapy , genotype , population , white blood cell , lymphoblastic leukemia , oncology , gastroenterology , leukemia , genetics , gene , biology , environmental health
Abstract Background As of late, a number of studies have focused on the association of the gene for methyletetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) with risk for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in children and in adults, as well as with response to chemotherapy. The degree of this association may vary according to the ethnic background and geographic localization of the population under study, or the phase of treatment when response to chemotherapy is concerned. Procedure We have analyzed the MTHFR C677T polymorphism in 52 patients and 88 control individuals, all ethnic Greek residents of northern Greece, and examined the association of this polymorphism with (a) susceptibility to childhood ALL and (b) the distribution of average plasma alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels, white blood cell counts (WBC), and hemoglobin levels (Hb) during the induction and consolidation phases of treatment. Results and Conclusions We were able to detect a statistically significant protective effect, with respect to ALL, associated with carriage of the MTHFR 677T allele [OR = 0.387 (95% CI = 0.193–0.776)]. In addition, we observed a general tendency towards lower values in all three parameters studied, associated with the MTHFR 677CC genotype, which was more evident in the transition from the induction to the consolidation phase, indicating that MTHFR genotyping may be of prognostic value in the early phase of treatment for childhood ALL, in our population. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.