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Folate and vitamin B6 intake and risk of colon cancer in relation to p53 expression

  • 0Department of Medicine, Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA. eva.schernhammer@channing.harvard.edu
Gastroenterology +

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July 16, 2008

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July 16, 2008

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View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Low folate and vitamin B6 intake increases colorectal cancer risk, particularly for p53-overexpressing tumors. Higher intake of these nutrients is associated with a reduced risk of these specific cancer types.

Area Of Science

  • Oncology
  • Nutritional Science
  • Molecular Biology

Background

  • A low-folate diet is linked to increased colorectal cancer risk.
  • Folate supplementation's role in adenoma recurrence is uncertain.
  • Folate deficiency may induce p53 mutations in laboratory models.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To investigate the association between folate and one-carbon nutrient intake and colorectal cancer risk.
  • To examine the relationship between nutrient intake and tumor p53 expression.
  • To determine if folate's effect on cancer risk differs based on p53 mutation status.

Main Methods

  • Immunohistochemical assay of p53 expression in 399 colon cancer specimens.
  • Analysis of a large prospective cohort of women with 22 years of follow-up.
  • Assessment of folate and vitamin B6 intake in relation to tumor p53 expression and cancer risk.

Main Results

  • Folate intake significantly modified the risk of p53-overexpressing (mutated) colorectal cancers (P(heterogeneity) = .01).
  • Higher folate intake (≥200 microg/day) was associated with reduced risk of p53-overexpressing cancers, with relative risks ranging from 0.42 to 0.54.
  • Folate intake did not influence the risk of wild-type tumors (RR, 1.05 for ≥400 vs <200 microg/day).
  • High vitamin B6 intake also showed a protective effect against p53-overexpressing cancers (RR, 0.57) but not wild-type tumors.

Conclusions

  • Low intake of folate and vitamin B6 is associated with an increased risk of p53-overexpressing colon cancers.
  • The findings highlight a differential effect of folate and vitamin B6 based on tumor p53 expression status.
  • These nutrients may play a role in the development of specific subtypes of colorectal cancer.

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