One-carbon metabolism gene polymorphisms and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in Australia

Hum Genet. 2007 Dec;122(5):525-33. doi: 10.1007/s00439-007-0431-2. Epub 2007 Sep 21.

Abstract

Dysregulation of the one-carbon metabolic pathway, which controls nucleotide synthesis and DNA methylation, may promote lymphomagenesis. We evaluated the association between polymorphisms in one-carbon metabolism genes and risk of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in a population-based case-control study in Australia. Cases (n = 561) and controls (n = 506) were genotyped for 14 selected single-nucleotide polymorphisms in 10 genes (CBS, FPGS, FTHFD, MTHFR, MTHFS, MTR, SHMT1, SLC19A1, TCN1, and TYMS). We also conducted a meta-analysis of all studies of Caucasian populations investigating the association between MTHFR Ex5+79C > T (a.k.a., 677C>T) and NHL risk. A global test of 13 genotypes was statistically significant for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL; P = 0.008), but not for follicular lymphoma (FL; P = 0.27) or all NHL (P = 0.17). The T allele at MTHFR Ex5+79 was marginally significantly associated with all NHL (OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 0.98-1.59) and DLBCL (1.36, 0.96-1.93). The T allele at TYMS Ex8+157 was associated with a reduced risk of FL (0.64, 0.46-0.91). An elevated risk of NHL was also observed among carriers of the G allele at FTHFD Ex21+31 (all NHL, 1.31, 1.02-1.69; DLBCL, 1.50, 1.05-2.14). A meta-analysis of 11 studies conducted in Caucasian populations of European origin (4,121 cases and 5,358 controls) supported an association between the MTHFR Ex5+79 T allele and increased NHL risk (additive model, P = 0.01). In conclusion, the results of this study suggest that genetic polymorphisms of one-carbon metabolism genes such as MTHFR and TYMS may influence susceptibility to NHL.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Alleles
  • Australia
  • Carbon / metabolism*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Genotype
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / etiology
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell / metabolism
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / etiology
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / genetics*
  • Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / metabolism*
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / etiology
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / genetics
  • Lymphoma, T-Cell / metabolism
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Models, Biological
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Risk Factors

Substances

  • Carbon