Background: We hypothesized that genetic polymorphisms in methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene are associated with prostate cancer risk.
Methods: We genotyped three MTHFR polymorphisms (C677T, A1298C, and G1793A) and measured serum total homocysteine (tHcy), folate, and vitamin B12 levels in a case-control study of 174 cases and 348 normal healthy controls. The cancer-free controls were frequency matched to the cases by age (±2 years), educational level, occupational status, ethnicity, and smoking status.
Results: We found that the MTHFR 677TT and 1298CC genotypes were associated with an about 40% reduction in risk of prostate cancer (adjusted OR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.41-0.94, and adjusted OR = 0.58, 95% CI = 0.32-0.91, respectively) compared to the 677CC, and 1298AA genotypes. The combined variant genotypes of 1298AC + 677CC were associated with a 30% reduction in risk of prostate cancer (OR = 0.70; 95% CI = 0.53-0.79). In contrast, the variant genotypes of 1793GA + 677CT were associated with slightly increased risk for prostate cancer (OR = 1.64; 95% CI = 0.86-2.15). Regarding prostate cancer aggressiveness, the 677TT genotype was associated with more than 50% decreased risk of high-grade prostate cancer (Gleason score >7) compared with the 677CC and 677CT genotypes (OR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.24-0.64; P = 0.001). There was no significant difference in plasma levels of tHcy, folate, and vitamin B12 between the two groups with any genotypes.
Conclusion: These data suggest that all three MTHFR polymorphisms may play a pivotal role in the developing prostate cancer. Larger studies in different ethnic populations and incorporating dietary folate intake are needed to replicate our findings.