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Title: Folate-genetics and colorectal neoplasia: What we know and need to know next

Author
item FIGUEIREDO, JANE - University Of Southern California
item LEVINE, A. JOAN - University Of Southern California
item CROTT, JIMMY - Jean Mayer Human Nutrition Research Center On Aging At Tufts University
item BAURLEY, JAMES - Biorealm, Llc
item HAILE, ROBERT - University Of Southern California

Submitted to: Molecular Nutrition and Food Research
Publication Type: Review Article
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/7/2012
Publication Date: 2/8/2013
Citation: Figueiredo, J.C., Levine, A., Crott, J.W., Baurley, J., Haile, R.W. 2013. Folate-genetics and colorectal neoplasia: What we know and need to know next. Molecular Nutrition and Food Research. 57(4):607-627.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The metabolism of folate involves a complex network of polymorphic enzymes that may explain a proportion of the risk associated with colorectal neoplasia. Over 60 observational studies primarily in non-Hispanic White populations have been conducted on selected genetic variants in specific genes, MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, CBS, TCNII, RFC, GCPII, SHMT, TYMS, and MTHFD1, including five meta-analyses on MTHFR 677C>T (rs1801133) and MTHFR 1298C>T (rs1801131); two meta-analyses on MTR-2756A>C (rs1805087); and one for MTRR 66A>G (rs1801394). This systematic review synthesizes these data, highlighting the consistent inverse association between MTHFR 677TT genotype and risk of colorectal cancer (CRC) and its null association with adenoma risk. Results for other variants varied across individual studies; in our meta-analyses we observed some evidence for SHMT 1420C>T (rs1979277) ((odds ratio) OR = 0.85; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.73-1.00 for TT v. CC) and TYMS 5' 28 bp repeat (rs34743033) and CRC risk (OR = 0.84; 95% CI = 0.75-0.94 for 2R/3R v. 3R/3R and OR = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.69-0.98 for 2R/2R v. 3R/3R). To gain further insight into the role of folate variants in colorectal neoplasia will require incorporating measures of the metabolites, including B-vitamin cofactors, homocysteine and S-adenosylmethionine, and innovative statistical methods to better approximate the folate one-carbon metabolism pathway.