MTHFR polymorphisms and breast cancer risk

INTRODUCTION: Two functional single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene, C677T and A1298C, lead to decreased enzyme activity and affect chemosensitivity of tumour cells. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We evaluated these two common polymorphisms and breast cancer risk association in an Iranian sporadic breast cancer population-based case-control study of 294 breast cancer cases and 306 controls using a PCR-RFLP-based assay. RESULTS: Analyses of affected and controls show that homozygote genotype MTHFR 677CC has the highest frequency in both groups (28.3% in patients and 25.3% in control group). Genotype MTHFR 677CT and genotype MTHFR 1298AC were found to be statistically significant risk factors in our population (odds ratio: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.019-2.513, p = 0.041; and odds ratio: 2.575, 95% CI: 1.590-4.158, p = 0.001 respectively). CONCLUSIONS: We can conclude based on the results of our study that a significant association between breast cancer and C677T and A1298C polymorphism might exist.