Screening of polymorphisms in the folate pathway in Turkish pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients

ABSTRACT

Background and aim: Folate metabolic pathway plays a significant role in leukemogenesis because of its necessity for nucleotide synthesis and DNA methylation. Folate deficiency causes DNA damage. Thus polymorphisms of folate-related genes may affect the susceptibility to childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia [ALL]. MTHFR [Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase], DHFR [Dihydrofolate reductase], CBS [Cystathionine ?-synthase] and TYMS [Thymidylate Synthase] have an important role in folate pathway because their activated variants modulate synthesis of DNA and levels of folate. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether polymorphisms in genes related to folate metabolic pathway influence the risk to childhood ALL