European Journal of Molecular & Clinical Medicine

Abstract

Globally, cervical cancer(CC) is the second most common cancer among women, and persistent infection with high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), is associated with the causes of cervical cancer along with host genetic factors. Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase is a major enzyme in folate metabolism and is required for several biological processes. The MTHFR gene's mutations may cause the enzyme's activity to decline. The functional single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) C677T in the 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene can reduce enzyme activity and alter the chemosensitivity of tumour cells. The present study aimed to look into the role of MTHFR gene polymorphism in the aetiology of cervical cancer in Eastern Indian women. In a case-control study, biochemical analysis was carried out using a commercially available ELISA kit.
In contrast, genetic analysis (PCR-RFLP of peripheral leucocytes) was carried out on all women with cervical cancer and controls. Statistical analysis was done by using the student "t-test" for quantitative variables and the chi-square test for nominal variables, and the odds ratio & 95% confidence interval was calculated the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval to estimate risk. The frequencies of MTHFR C677C, C677T, and T677T were 27.62, 57.62, and 12% in the cervical cancer subjects and 95, 5, and 0.00% in the controls, respectively.  Folate and homocysteine levels showed statistically significant differences between these two groups; however, an increasing trend of homocysteine levels was associated with an increasing rate of cervical cancer. We found a negative correlation between homocysteine and the biochemical parameter in the cases. In conclusion, our data suggest that the MTHFR C677T polymorphism, low folate, and vitamins B12 and B6 are associated with cervical cancer and act as "risk factors".