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Study data from University of Sao Paulo, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology update understanding of acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk factors

11-17-2006

Fresh data on acute lymphoblastic leukemia are presented in the report "5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms and acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk: a meta-analysis." According to a study from Sao Paulo, Brazil, "There is evidence supporting a role for 5-10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene variants in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). To provide a more robust estimate of the effect of MTHFR polymorphisms on the risk of ALL, we did a meta-analysis to reevaluate the association between the two most commonly studied MTHFR polymorphisms (C677T and A1298C) and ALL risk."

"All case-control studies investigating an association between the C677T or A1298C polymorphisms and risk of ALL were included. We applied both fixed-effects and random-effects models to combine odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Q-statistic was used to evaluate the homogeneity and both Egger and Begg-Mazumdar tests were used to assess publication bias. The meta-analysis of the C677T polymorphism and risk of childhood ALL included 13 studies with a total of 4,894 individuals. Under a fixed-effects model, the TT genotype failed to be associated with a statistically significant reduction of childhood ALL risk (TT versus CT + CC: OR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.73-1.06; p=0.18). However, individuals homozygous for the 677T allele exhibited a 2.2-fold decrease in risk of adult ALL (TT versus CT + CC: OR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.26-0.77; p=0.004). In both cases, no evidence of heterogeneity was observed. No association between the A1298C variant and susceptibility to both adult and childhood ALL was disclosed," wrote T.V. Pereira and colleagues, University of Sao Paulo, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

The researchers concluded: "Our findings support the proposal that the common genetic C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR contributes to the risk of adult ALL, but not to the childhood ALL susceptibility."

Pereira and colleagues published the results of their research in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention (5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase polymorphisms and acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk: a meta-analysis. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention, 2006;15(10):1956-63).

For additional information, contact T.V. Pereira, Federal University of Sao Paulo, Dept. of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Instituto do Coracao, Avenida Dr. Eneas de Carvalho Aguiar 44, CEP 05403-000, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.

The publisher of the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention can be contacted at: American Association Cancer Research, 615 Chestnut St., 17TH Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19106-4404, USA.

Keywords: Brazil, Sao Paulo, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Risk Factors, Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, Biochemistry, Cancer Epidemiology, Hematology, Oncology.

This article was prepared by Hematology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2006, Hematology Week via NewsRx.com.