| Abstract
| - Epidemiologic and mechanistic evidence suggests that folate is involved in colorectal neoplasia. Some polymorphic genes involved in folate metabolism—methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFRC677T and A1298C), methionine synthase (MTRA2756G), methionine synthase reductase (MTRRA66G), cystathionine β-synthase (CBS exon 8, 68-base-pair insertion), and thymidylate synthase (TS enhancer region and 3′ untranslated region)—have been investigated in colorectal neoplasia. For MTHFRC677T and A1298C, the variant allele is associated with reduced enzyme activity in vitro. For the other polymorphisms, functional data are limited and/or inconsistent. Genotype frequencies for all of the polymorphisms show marked ethnic and geographic variation. In most studies, MTHFR677TT (10 studies, >4,000 cases) and 1298CC (four studies, >1,500 cases) are associated with moderately reduced colorectal cancer risk. In four of five genotype-diet interaction studies, 677TT subjects who had higher folate levels (or a “high-methyl diet”) had the lowest cancer risk. In two studies, 677TT homozygote subjects with the highest alcohol intake had the highest cancer risk. Findings from six studies of MTHFRC677T and adenomatous polyps are inconsistent. There have been only one or two studies of the other polymorphisms; replication is needed. Overall, the roles of folate-pathway genes, folate, and related dietary factors in colorectal neoplasia are complex. Research priorities are suggested.
|
