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Genetic variants in the folate pathway and risk of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Catherine Metayer1, Ghislaine Scélo, Anand P Chokkalingam

  • 1School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 1995 University Avenue, Suite 460, Berkeley, CA 94704-7392, USA. cmetayer@berkeley.edu

Cancer Causes & Control : CCC
|July 13, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Genetic variations in the folate pathway are linked to childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) risk. Maternal folate intake can modify this association, highlighting the importance of genetic factors in ALL.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics
  • Nutritional Epidemiology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • Folate is crucial for DNA synthesis, repair, and methylation through one-carbon metabolism.
  • Childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a significant health concern, and its etiology is multifactorial.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between child's germline genetic variations in the folate pathway and the risk of childhood ALL.
  • To determine if maternal periconception folate and alcohol intake modify this risk.

Main Methods:

  • Genotyping of 76 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) across 10 folate pathway genes in 377 ALL cases and 448 controls.
  • Analysis of log-additive associations between genotypes and ALL risk, adjusted for demographic factors.
  • Examination of gene-environment interactions with maternal folate and alcohol intake.

Main Results:

  • Significant associations were found between SNPs in CBS, MTRR, and TYMS/ENOFS genes and childhood ALL risk.
  • Specific regions of the CBS gene showed associations with ALL risk in both Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations.
  • Maternal folate intake levels modified the risk associations for SNPs in CBS, MTRR, and TYMS.

Conclusions:

  • Genetic variability within the folate pathway plays a role in childhood ALL susceptibility.
  • The findings underscore the interplay between genetic predisposition and environmental factors, such as maternal nutrition, in childhood leukemia.
Abstract

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