Influence of MTHFR 1298A→C polymorphism on response to transarterial chemoembolization in primary hepatocellular carcinoma: A pilot study

To evaluate the influence of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 1298 A→Cpolymorphisms on response to transarterial chemoembolization (TACE) treatment for primary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). 125 patients with HCC were treated with TACE alone. Of them, 63 patients underwent TACE using lipiodol mixed with cisplatin(DDP), Pirarubicin(THP) and mitomycin(MMC), and 62 patients underwent TACE using lipiodol mixed DDP, THP and 5-fluorouracil(5-Fu). In the TACE combined with DDP, THP and MMC group, the response rate of TACE were higher in patients carrying MTHFR 1298AA genotype than the subjects with the MTHFR 1298 AC genotype, but not in the TACE combined with DDP, THP and 5-Fu group. Our results suggest that MTHFR 1298 A→C polymorphism could influence response to TACE treatment using lipiodol mixed DDP, THP and MMC in HCC. Further studies with larger sample sizes are required to validate this association.