Impact of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism on the Risk of Gastric Cancer and Its Interaction with Helicobacter pylori Infection

Saberi, Samaneh; Zendehdel, Kazem; Jahangiri, Sahar; Talebkhan, Yeganeh; Abdirad, Afshin; Mohajerani, Nazanin; Bababeik, Maryam; Karami, Najmeh; Esmaili, Maryam; Oghalaie, Akbar; Hassanpour, Parisa; Amini, Neda; Mohagheghi, Mohammad Ali; Eshagh Hossieni, Mahmoud; Mohammadi, Marjan

doi:10.6091/ibj.1102.2012

Impact of Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism on the Risk of Gastric Cancer and Its Interaction with Helicobacter pylori Infection

Authors

Samaneh Saberi

Kazem Zendehdel

Sahar Jahangiri

Yeganeh Talebkhan

Afshin Abdirad

Nazanin Mohajerani

Maryam Bababeik

Najmeh Karami

Maryam Esmaili

Akbar Oghalaie

Parisa Hassanpour

Neda Amini

Mohammad Ali Mohagheghi

Mahmoud Eshagh Hossieni

Marjan Mohammadi

10.6091/ibj.1102.2012

Abstract

Background: Attempts for early detection of gastric cancer have recently focused on host's genetic susceptibility factors and gene-environment interactions. We have, herein, studied the association of MTHFR C677T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and its interaction with Helicobacter pylori infection, smoking, age and gender on the risk of gastric cancer among an Iranian population. Methods: Gastric cancer patients (n = 450) and cancer-free controls (n = 780) were studied for serum H. pylori-specific IgG antibodies by ELISA and MTHFR C677T polymorphism (SNP) by PCR-RFLP. Demographic and life style data were collected through patient interviews. Unconditional logistic regression model estimated odds ratio (OR) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: The interactions of MTHFR genotype with H. pylori infection (P = 0.03), age (P = 0.049) and gender (P = 0.007) were statistically significant. Accordingly, MTHFR C677T carriers who were also positive for H. pylori infection exhibited 80% (OR = 1.8, 95% CI = 1.0-2.9) significant excess risk of non-cardia gastric cancer. Furthermore, subjects over the age of 50 or female subjects carrying MTHFR C677T SNP showed 40 (OR = 1.4, 95% CI = 1.0-2.0) and 100 (OR = 2.0, 95% CI = 1.2-3.2) percent increased risk of gastric cancer, respectively. Conclusion: Therefore, MTHFR C677T SNP seems to increase the risk of gastric cancer and the effect is significantly inflated by interactions with H. pylori infection, age and gender.

Keywords

Helicobacter pylori

Smoking

Gender Identity

Age group

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase