VITAMIN D RECEPTOR GENE POLYMORPHISMS IN PEDIATRIC PATIENTS WITH
LEUKEMIA-LYMPHOMA: DOES IT HAVE AN IMPACT ON MALIGNANCY?
Abstract
Background: Since now, genetic, infectious and environmental factors
that may cause cancer are being investigated in many studies all over
the world and still too many studies are ungoing about this subject.
Genetic variations have been identified in specific regions of the
Vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and many researches were focused whether
these variations are associated with cancer. Polymorphisms in VDR gene
can be associated with prostate, breast, colon and lung cancer. Studies
in this subject with children are scarce. Procedure: This study includes
40 lymphoma or leukemia patients 0-18 years of age, and 59 volunteers at
the same ages as control group. Serum calcium(Ca), phosphorus(P),
alkaline phosphatase(ALP) and 25-OH-D3 levels and Fok-I, Bsm-I and Taq-I
polymorphism of VDR gene were investigated in both patient and control
groups. The data was analyzed by SPPS statistical programs. Results:
There were no statistically significant difference in the Ca, P and
25-OH-D3 levels in the patients and the controls. While there were no
difference in the genotypic characteristics of the groups, we found that
“A” and/or “C” carriers for Bsm-I and/or Taq-I polymorphisms are
seen in higher frequency in the control group than pediatric
leukemia-lymphoma patients. (Odds ratio=0.489; CI 95%=0.275-0.871 and
0.519; CI 95%=0.280-0.964) (p<0.05). Conclusions: In this
study, we found that “A” and/or “C” carriers for Bsm-I and/or Taq-I
polymorphisms are seen in higher frequency in the control group than
pediatric leukemia-lymphoma patients. So we can say that these
polymorphisms are not risk factors for these cancers.