TY - JOUR T1 - Gene Polymorphisms <em>MTHFR</em>C677T and <em>MTR</em>A2756G as Predictive Factors in Adjuvant Chemotherapy for Stage III Colorectal Cancer JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 3057 LP - 3062 VL - 31 IS - 9 AU - HELENA TAFLIN AU - YVONNE WETTERGREN AU - ELISABETH ODIN AU - GĂ–RAN CARLSSON AU - KRISTOFFER DERWINGER Y1 - 2011/09/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/31/9/3057.abstract N2 - Background: The aim of this study was to explore the effect in stage III colorectal cancer of functional gene polymorphisms methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T) and methionine synthase (A2756G), in the folate metabolism on outcome and risk of toxicity for adjuvant chemotherapy. A secondary aim was to investigate any possible interdependency between the two genes. Patients and Methods: one hundred and fifty randomly chosen patients with stage III colorectal cancer, treated with adjuvant chemotherapy, were genotyped by real-time PCR. Patient and treatment data were retrieved and assessed for demography, pathology, chemotherapy tolerability and survival after adjuvant therapy. The polymorphisms were studied separately and in combination to discover possible interactions. Results: Patients with MTHFR 677 CC genotype carried lower risks of suffering from nausea (p=0.027), parasthesia (p=0.0042) and need for dose reduction (p=0.025). The CC genotype was also associated with better survival (p&lt;0.034). There was interdependency with MTR A2756G. Patients with MTR AG/GG in combination with MTHFR CT/TT genotypes carried the highest risk of side-effects. Conclusion: Functional polymorphisms of MTHFR C677T and MTR A2756G can affect outcome and risk of toxicity during adjuvant chemotherapy in stage III colorectal cancer. Their possible interdependence brings attention to the function of folate metabolism overall regarding its association with 5-fluoruracil related toxicity. Our results could explain some of the difficulties of obtaining reproducible and uniform results when using single polymorphisms as predictive markers. ER -