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Polymorphisms of Methionine Synthase and Methionine Synthase Reductase and Risk of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck: a Case-Control Analysis

Departments of ¹ Epidemiology and ² Head and Neck Surgery, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas

Requests for reprints: Qingyi Wei, Department of Epidemiology, Unit 189, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030. Phone: 713-792-3020; Fax: 713-792-0807. E-mail: qwei{at}mdanderson.org

Although tobacco and alcohol use are the major risk factors, folate deficiency has been implicated in the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). We hypothesized that polymorphisms of methionine synthase (MTR) and methionine synthase reductase (MTRR) in the folate matabolic pathway are associated with SCCHN risk. In a hospital-based case-control study of 721 SCCHN cases and 1,234 controls of non-Hispanic Whites, frequency matched by age, sex, and smoking status, we genotyped the MTR A2756G and MTRR G66A polymorphisms. We found that the MTR variant AG and AG/GG genotypes were associated with a significantly increased SCCHN risk [adjusted odd ratio (OR), 1.31; 95% confidence interval (95% CI), 1.07-1.60 for AG and OR, 1.28; 95% CI, 1.05-1.56 for AG/GG] compared with the AA genotype. In contrast, the MTRR variant AA genotype was associated with a significantly decreased SCCHN risk (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.52-0.90) compared with the 66GG genotype. When the two polymorphisms were evaluated together by the number of risk alleles, the SCCHN risk was significantly increased in a dose-dependent manner (P_trend = 0.002). The risk of SCCHN was 1.47 (95% CI, 1.08-1.99) for one risk allele, 1.67 (95% CI, 1.23-2.27) for two risk alleles, and 1.74 (95% CI, 1.18-2.54) for three or four risk alleles compared with the wild-type (0 risk allele) genotype. In conclusion, our data provide evidence that support the association between the MTR A2756G and MTRR G66A polymorphisms and SCCHN risk and that these two polymorphisms may have a joint effect on risk of SCCHN.

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