MTHFR A1298C and C677T gene polymorphisms and susceptibility to chronic myeloid leukemia in Egypt.

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme regulating the intracellular folate metabolism which plays an important role in carcinogenesis through DNA methylation. We aimed to evaluate the association between MTHFR A1298C and C677T polymorphisms and the risks of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Eighty-five patients with CML and a control group containing 100 healthy, age and sex matched individuals were examined for MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length (PCR-RFLP) method. The frequency of 677TT genotype in patients with CML was significantly higher compared to controls (OR=2.513, 95% CI: 0.722-4.086, P=0.025). No such association was shown for heterozygous 677CT (OR=1.010, 95% CI: 0.460-2.218, P=0.981). Moreover, for A1298C genotype, a statistically significant higher frequency of 1298CC was also detected in CML patients compared to control group (OR=1.1816, 95% CI: 0.952-3.573, P=0.036), 0.036). No such statistical significance was demonstrable for heterozygote 1298AC (OR=1.046, 95% CI: 0.740-1.759, P=0.092). In addition, patients with joint 677CT/1298AC or 677TT/1298CC genotypes showed an association with increased risk of CML (OR=1.849, 95% CI: 0.935-2.540, P=0.024; OR=1.915, 95% CI: 1.202-3.845, P=0.020 respectively). .A statistically significant increased risk of resistant to therapy was observed with 677CT and 1298AC genotypes (P=0.001, P=0.002 respectively). We conclude that both MTHFR 677TT and 1298CC polymorphisms have been associated with risk of CML and both 677CT and 1298AC genotypes are associated with higher risk of resistant to therapy.