The Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism in Patients with Esophageal Cancer

Background: Esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cancer worldwide and the 6th cause of cancer related death. Genetic factors are also responsible in pathogenesis of esophageal cancer. This study aimed to investigate the association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism and esophageal cancer in Iranian population. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients diagnosed with esophageal cancer in Imam Reza hospital between June 2007 and June 2014, Tehran, Iran. Genotyping was performed using restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-PCR method using Hinf-1 restriction endonuclease enzyme. Results: The frequencies of various genotypes of MTHFR gene were not statistically significant in cases and controls (P=0.348). There were no statistically significant difference in frequency of C and T alleles in patients with esophageal cancer and controls (P=0.084). Mean survival of patients with esophageal cancer was 31.25 ± 4.25 months in patients with CC genotype, 38.2 ± 4.11 months in CT genotype and 37.2 ± 6.44 months in patients  with TT genotype (P=0.459). Allele frequency was not also associated with mean survival in patients and controls (P=0.168). Conclusion: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism was not associated with esophageal cancer and did not impact on survival in this subset of Iranian patients.