POLYMORPHISMS C677T and A1298C MTHFR GENE ASSOCIATION WITH THE POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT OF CERVICAL CANCER IN A BRAZILIAN POPULATION

• Grant number: 12/23797-9
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2013
• Effective date (End): February 28, 2014
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine
• Principal researcher: Monica Vannucci Nunes Lipay
• Grantee: Eduarda Faria Abrahão Machado
• Home Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Jundiaí (FMJ). Prefeitura Municipal de Jundiaí. Jundiaí , SP, Brazil

Abstract

5-10 methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase - MTHFR is the main regulatory enzyme of homocysteine metabolism. The accumulation of plasma homocysteine is considered a risk factor for several diseases frequent in the population. It is known that reduced activity of MTHFR requires an increased dietary intake of folate to maintain normal folate metabolic pathways and thus there is no accumulation of homocysteine. Besides the focus on diet rich in folate, several other studies have been devoted to knowing and identifying single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes related to folate metabolism. The more SNPs studied include A1298C MTHFR gene and the C677T, MS A2756G gene (methionine synthase) gene and A66G MTRR (methionine synthase reductase). Several recent studies attempt to relate some of the MTHFR gene SNPs with the development of cancers in different populations, but it is important to have knowledge of the polymorphic distribution may vary greatly in different populations. According to the importance of knowing the risk factors for the development of various pathologies multifactorial, among these cancer, the goal of the current project is to investigate the association between the risk of developing cervical cancer and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) A1298C and C677T MTHFR gene in Brazilian women. From what we know so far, there are no studies in the literature that addresses the relationship of these polymorphisms with the development of cancer of the cervix in the Brazilian population. We expect to find a strong correlation between polymorphisms and the occurrence of cervical lesions. Thus we confirm that individuals with polymorphisms (C677T and A1298C mutant) are more likely to develop cervical lesions and when in contact with HPV and other risk factors for developing cervical cancer if not monitored and treated correctly. In conclusion, it would be able to consider the presence of these polymorphisms in an individual as a risk factor for cervical cancer, since it is known that this is a multifactorial disease that affects a large percentage of the population.