Correlation of Aberrant Methylation of APC Gene to MTHFR C677T Genetic Polymorphisms in Hepatic Carcinoma

Abstract

Abstract Object To investigate the relationship between aberrant hypermethylation of APC gene and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T genetic polymorphisms in Hepatic Carcinoma. Method Hepatic Carcinoma cancer tissues and para-cancerous normal tissues were collected. CpG island methylation status of APC gene and MTHFR gene polymorphisms were analyzed by Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (Real-time PCR). The associations between methylation status of APC gene and clinical characteristics, as well as the relationship between APC methylation and MTHFR C677T polymorphisms, were evaluated. Results Among 86 HCC patients, the aberrant hypermethylation rate of APC gene in tumorous tissues (77.9 %) was significantly higher than that in para-cancerous normal tissues (46.5 %). No relationship was found between APC gene methylation and selected factors including sex, age, tumor size, TNM stage, HBsAg and AFP. After adjustment for potential confounders, individuals carrying MTHFR 677 T allele gene have higher frequency of hypermethylation in APC gene in cancer tissues, with odds ratio of 3.64(95 % CI: 1.13–11.79). Our results suggested that MTHFR 677 T allele might be associated with aberrant methylation of APC gene.KeywordsAPC methylationMTHFR gene polymorphismHepatic carcinoma