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A Common Variant of the Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Gene (1p36) Is Associated with an Increased Risk of Cancer¹

Molecular Epidemiology Section, Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics [B. T. H., H. E. D. S., P. E. S.], Gerontology and Geriatrics Section, Department of General Internal Medicine [R. G. J. W.], and Department of Pathology [C. J. C.], Leiden University Medical Centre, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands, and Department of Nutrition and Health, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment, 3720 BA Bilthoven [J. M. A. B., D. K., E. J. M. F.], the Netherlands

Folate metabolism is thought to play an important role in carcinogenesis through its involvement in both DNA methylation and nucleotide synthesis. A common Ala²²²/Val variant in the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene leads to a disturbed folate metabolism and is associated with decreased genomic DNA methylation. We previously reported that the MTHFR Val/Val genotype was associated with increased cancer mortality in men from a population-based cohort of subjects ages 85 years. To further explore the deleterious effects of the MTHFR genotype, we studied the association of the genotype with cancer risk in 860 men ages 65–84 years who were followed >10 years (Zutphen Elderly Study).

During follow-up, 149 new cases of cancer occurred among the 793 men without cancer at baseline. The risk of developing cancer was 1.80-fold (95% confidence interval, 1.09–3.00) higher among men with the Val/Val genotype than among men with the Ala/Ala genotype. Except for lung cancer [relative risk (RR), 1.15], the risks of common forms of cancers were significantly increased among men with the Val/Val genotype [cancer of the prostate (RR, 3.48); the colorectum (RR, 3.65); the kidney and bladder (RR, 5.48)]. The risks of cancer were particularly increased among men with a lower folate and a higher alcohol intake and men of an older age. In conclusion, our current and previous studies in two independent populations indicate that a common Ala/Val variant in the MTHFR gene is a risk factor for cancer in elderly men from the general population. The mechanism underlying this association might involve genomic instability as a result of insufficient methylation of genomic DNA.

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