Polymorphisms of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase and thymidylate synthase in squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma of the skin.

Genetic instability resulting from mutations in repair genes, defects in folic acid metabolism or DNA synthesis has been reported to contribute significantly to the development of skin cancer. The enzymes 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and thymidylate synthase (TS) are essential participants in folic acid metabolism and DNA synthesis. Thus, the present case-control study was conducted to determine whether an association exists between the MTHFR/TS polymorphisms and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and/or basal cell carcinoma (BCC) among Korean individuals.

Polymorphisms of thymidylate synthase gene 5'- and 3'-untranslated region and risk of gastric cancer in Koreans.

Background: Thymidylate synthase (TS) plays an important role in the conversion of dUMP to dTMP. Polymorphisms of the TS gene affect the expression of the gene, which in turn may result in differences in the outcome of cancer chemotherapy and the progression of gastric cancer.

Patients And Methods: These types of TS polymorphism were investigated in 318 gastric cancer patients and 280 controls.

Polymorphisms of 5,10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR C677T) and thymidylate synthase enhancer region (TSER) as a risk factor of cholangiocarcinoma in a Korean population.

Background: 5,10-Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR), a key enzyme in folate metabolism, plays a major role in the provision of methyl groups for DNA methylation; thymidylate synthase (TS) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the synthesis of dTMP and DNA repair. The clinical role of genetic polymorphisms of MTHFR and that of the TS enhancer region (TSER) were demonstrated in several clinical studies with colorectal, esophageal, gastric and breast cancer. However, there have never been any studies on the association between cholangiocarcinoma (CCC) and genetic polymorphisms of MTHFR and TSER.