Serum Folate, MTHFR C677T Polymorphism and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Risk

This study examined associations between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and serum folate concentrations with the risk of esophageal precancerous lesions （EPL） and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma （ESCC）. The highest quartile of serum folate concentration significantly decreased the risk of ESCC compared with the lowest quartile （0R=0.11; 95% CI, 0.04-0.33; P〈0.05）. MTHFR 677 C〉T polymorphism was associated with the risk of ESCC by using chi-square tests （P〈0.05）. For the CT genotype, the risk of ESCC significantly increased in study participants with low serum folate concentrations （〈26.92μg/L） compared with participants with high serum folate concentrations （〉26.92 μg/L） by using multinomial logistic regression models. The MTHFR genotype may further modify associations between serum folate concentrations and the risk of ESCC, but it was not significantly associated with the risk of EPL.

Arg462Gln and Asp541Glu polymorphisms in ribonuclease L and prostate cancer risk:a meta-analysis

Objective：The association between ribonuclease L（RNASEL）gene polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk has been widely reported,but the results of these studies remained controversial and underpowered.We performed a meta-analysis of 28 studies to evaluate the association between Arg462Gln and Asp541Glu polymorphisms in the RNASEL gene and prostate cancer risk.Methods：Odds ratios（ORs）with 95%confidence intervals（CIs） were estimated to assess the association between RNASEL polymorphisms and prostate cancer risk.Results：A significantly increased prostate cancer risk was found for the Arg462Gln polymorphism in Africans（Gln/Gln vs Arg/Arg：OR=2.50,95%CI=1.28-4.87;Gln/Gln vs Gln/Arg＋Arg/Arg：OR=2.54,95%CI=1.30-4.95）,but not in Europeans and Asians.Additionally,the Asp541Glu polymorphism was associated with increased total prostate cancer risk（Glu-allele vs Asp-allele：OR=1.04,95%CI=1.01-1.07;Glu/Glu vs Asp/Asp：OR=1.22,95%CI= 1.03-1.46;Glu/Glu vs Glu/Asp＋Asp/Asp：OR=1.09,95%CI=1.02-1.16）.In the stratified analysis for the Asp541Glu polymorphism,there was a significantly increased prostate cancer risk in Africans and Europeans,and in hospital-based prostate cancer cases.Conclusion：The meta-analysis results showed evidence that RNASEL Arg462Gln and Asp541Glu polymorphisms are associated with prostate cancer risk and could be low-penetrance prostate cancer susceptibility biomarkers.

TYMS gene 5'-and 3'-untranslated region polymorphisms and risk of non-syndromic cleft lip and palate in an Indian population

Dear Editor： Increased homocysteine levels due to vitamin B6 or B12 deficiency or genetic defects in folate pathway genes are associated with an increased incidence of non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate （NSCLP）tlj. Thymidylate synthase （TS） is a folate-dependent enzyme that catalyzes methylation of 2＇-deoxyuridine-5＇-monophosphate （dUMP） to 2＇-deox- ythymidine-5＇-monophosphate （dTMP）, a rate-limiting step in DNA synthesis,

Apolipoprotein AI gene polymorphisms and risk for coronary artery disease in Chinese Xinjiang Uygur and Han population

Objective To analyze the relationship between polymorphism at the Apolipoprotein AI (Apo AI) gene and the risk for coronary artery disease. Methods A total of 107 patients (mean age 56 ±11 years) diagnosed as having stable angina pectoris (SAP) (23 cases), unstable angina pectoris (UAP) (23 cases) or myocardial infarction (MI) (61 cases) were prospectively evaluated. DNA was obtained from the 107 patients and 50 controls. In order to determine the Apo AI genotypes at two polymorphic sites (G/A at -75 bp, and C/T at+83 bp), DNA was PCR amplified and digested with MspI. Results The frequency of carriers of the rare allele at the - 75 bp site (M1-) was 0.49 in cases and 0.30 in controls (P<0. 05). The frequencies of the M1-allele among patients with SAP, UAP, MI and controls were 0. 37 (vs. controls, P > 0. 05), 0.54 (vs. controls, P < 0.05), 0.52 (vs. controls, P<0. 05) and 0. 30, respectively. The frequencies for carriers of the rare allele at the + 83bp polymorphism (M2) were observed among patients with SAP (0. 09, vs. controls, P > 0.05), UAP (0.11, vs. controls, P>0.05) or MI (0. 12, vs. controls, P>0. 05) and controls (0. 12). There was an slightly increase in the frequency of the Ml - allele in patients with SAP to UAP or MI (0. 37 vs. 0. 54 vs. 0. 52; all P>0. 05) and Ml polymorphism as a risk factor for CAD ( OR = 3. 74, P < 0. 05). In the + 83bp polymorphism there was no difference in the allelelic frequencies in cases and controls (0. 11 vs. 0. 12; P > 0. 05). There was no significantdifference in the frequency of the M2 - allele in patients with SAP to UAP or MI (0.09 vs. 0. 11 vs. 0. 12; all P>0. 05) and M2 polymorphism not as a factor for CAD (OR=0.80, P>0. 05).Plasma lipoprotein values in patients with the allele M1-and M2 - had no different levels than those homozygous for the M1+and M2+(P>0.05). Conclusion Ml polymorphism (M1 - ) may be as a risk factor for CAD and M2 polymorphism (M2 - ) not as a factor for CAD in Chinese Xinjiang Uygur and Han population.

Polymorphisms of estrogen-metabolizing genes and breast cancer risk: a multigenic study

Background Endogenous estrogen plays a very important role in the carcinogenesis and progression of breast cancer. The enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and metabolism of estrogen have been proposed to contribute to this effect. To examine this hypothesis, we conducted a case-control study to investigate the relationship between polymorphisms of genes responsible for estrogen biosynthesis （CYP17, cytochrome P450c17a and CYP19, aromatase cytochrome P450） and estrogen sulfation of inactivation （ SULT1 A1, sulfotransferasel A1 ） and the risk of breast cancer in Chinese women. Methods This study involved 213 breast cancer patients and 430 matched controls. PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism （RFLP） and short tandem repeat polymorphism （STRP） assays were used to detect the mononucleotide transition of CYP17 and SULT1A1 and tandem repeat polymorphism of CYP19. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine OR and 95% CI of each and all three high-risk genotypes, of all three genotypes combined, and of estrogen exposure factbrs. The relationship between each high-risk genotype and clinicalpathological characteristics were also assessed. Results The frequency of A2 allele of CYP17 was 49.8% in cases and 49. 1% in controls （P =0. 82）. The frequency of His allele of SULT1A1 was significantly higher in cases （ 13.6% ） than in controls （9. 5% ） （P 〈 0. 05 ）. There was also significant difference of the （TTTA）10 allele of CYP19 which was 12. 4% in cases and 8.2% in controls （P 〈0. 05）. When the CYP17 A2 allele, CYP19 （TITA）1o and SULT1A1 His allele were considered as the “putative high-risk” genotype, there was an increased risk of breast cancer with the number of high-risk genotypes in a dose-response effect （trend, P = 0. 05 ）. In multivariate analysis, the SULT1A1 genotype remained the most significant determinant for breast cancer, with OR =2. 37 （95% CI 1.23 - 4. 74） , followed by CYP19, with OR = 1.75 （95% CI 1.27 - 3.56）. The （TTTA）10 allele of CYP19 was associated with tumor size, and the His allele of SULT1 A1 associated with status of lymph node metastasis. Conclusions This study supports the hypothesis that breast cancer can be initiated by estrogen exposure and that estrogen metabolizing genes are involved in this mechanism. This multigenic model is useful for identifying individuals who are at higher risks of breast cancer.