MTHFR 677 (C-->T) polymorphism is not relevant for prognosis or therapy-associated toxicity in pediatric NHL: results from 484 patients of multicenter trial NHL-BFM 95.

We analyzed the relationship of genetic variation within the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene (MTHFR 677 C-->T) with clinical characteristics, outcome, and therapy-related toxicity in pediatric non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in our multicenter trial NHL-BFM 95. In this trial, high-dose methotrexate (MTX) infusion regimens were randomized (4- vs 24-h infusion) in patients with B-cell lymphoma; MTX was applied as 24-h infusion in all patients with lymphoblastic lymphoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma. Toxicity data were collected per patient and therapy course according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria (NCI-CTC). The genotypes in 484 pediatric patients were distributed as follows: MTHFR 677 CC, 206 patients (42.6%); MTHFR 677 CT, 214 patients (44.2%); and MTHFR 677 TT, 64 patients (13.2%). Lymphoblastic lymphoma was significantly associated with homozygosity for the MTHFR 677 T allele. No association of MTHFR 677 genotype with clinical characteristics (sex, age, and tumor stage), outcome, or therapy-related toxicity could be detected. Therefore, we conclude that the MTHFR 677 C-->T polymorphism does not appear to influence outcome or therapy-associated toxicity in pediatric patients with NHL treated on BFM protocols.