[Polymorphism of catechol-O-methyltransferase gene in relation to the risk of endometrial cancer].

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The 4- and 16-hydroxylated metabolites of estrogens have been implicated in carcinogenesis, whereas its 2-hydroxylated metabolites have been shown to have antiangiogenic effects. We aimed to examine whether the polymorphisms of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) involved in the estrogen metabolism are associated with endometrial cancer risk.

METHODS:

Polymerase chain reaction-restrictive fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis was used to study the variant allele frequency distributions of COMT Val158Met genetic polymorphism in a population based case-control study with 132 endometrial cancer cases and 110 controls. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by unconditional logistic regression after adjustment for known or suspected risk factors for endometrial cancer.

RESULTS:

The most frequent genotype was COMT(Val/Val) (47.2%, 52/110) in control group and COMT(Val/Met) (58.3%, 77/132) in endometrial cancer group. The difference between the two groups was of statistical significance (P < 0.05). Compared with COMT(Met/Met) genotype, the COMT(Val/Val) genotype was inversely correlated with endometrial cancer risk, and the adjusted OR value was 0.262 (95% CI: 0.080 - 0.862, P = 0.027).

CONCLUSIONS:

Among the genotypes in women in South China, genotype COMT(Val/Val) is mostly seen, followed by COMT(Val/Met), and COMT(Met/Met) is the least in control group. The endometrial cancer susceptivity of genotype COMT(Val/Val) carriers may be lower than COMT(Met/Met) carriers.

• Authors: Xiao-Miao Zhao, Mei-Qing Xie, Dong-Zi Yang, Liang-An Wang, Shi-Jie Li, Yan-Yan Zhuang, Xue-Lian Tang
• Journal: Zhonghua fu chan ke za zhi (Zhonghua Fu Chan Ke Za Zhi) Vol. 42 Issue 2 Pg. 116-9 (Feb 2007) ISSN: 0529-567X [Print] China
• PMID: 17442187 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Catechol O-Methyltransferase

Topics

• Adult
• Catechol O-Methyltransferase (genetics)
• Endometrial Neoplasms (enzymology, genetics)
• Female
• Gene Frequency
• Genetic Predisposition to Disease
• Genotype
• Humans
• Menopause
• Middle Aged
• Polymerase Chain Reaction
• Polymorphism, Genetic
• Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
• Regression Analysis
• Risk Factors