Abstract

PURPOSE: Polymorphisms of the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene have been reported as risk factors for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in some populations. Our goal was to evaluate the potential role of A1298C and C677T polymorphisms of MTHFR in risk of NHL in southeast Iran. METHODS: In the present case-control study, 127 patients with newly diagnosed NHL along with 150 ethnicity- and age-matched controls were examined. The A1298C and C677T polymorphisms were genotyped using the Tetra Amplification Refractory Mutation System polymerase chain reaction method. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in genotype frequencies between cases and controls regarding either A1298C polymorphism. For this polymorphism, 53.8 of the controls and 54.3 of the patients with NHL showed homozygous wild-type (AA) genotype. Variant 1298C allele was recognized with overall frequency of 34.6 in both groups. Frequencies of CC, CT, and TT genotypes of C677T polymorphism were observed in 73.1, 25.8, and 1.3 of the controls, and 64.5, 33.1, and 2.4 of the patients with NHL (p>0.05). In combination, CT + TT conferred a significantly higher risk of NHL (odds ratio OR 1.5, 95% confidence interval CI 0.9-2.4, p = 0.03). Overall, variant 677T allele presented with higher frequency in the patients with NHL than the controls (26.7% versus 21.3%, respectively; OR 1.3, 95% CI 0.8-2.1, p>0.05). Although statistically insignificant, the highest risk of NHL was identified in patients with C677T; A1298C: CT; CC haplotype (OR 4.7, 95% CI 0.4-46.4, p = 0.1). CONCLUSIONS: Combination of CT and TT genotypes of C677T polymorphism conferred a significantly higher risk for NHL. It is recommended to investigate further the potential role of this polymorphism in NHL development.