The Association Of Serum Folic Acid, VitaminB₁₂ And Homocysteine Levels In Patients With Breast Cancer

Research objects：Breast cancer is the most common female malignant tumor.Recently, folic acid (FA), vitamin B12(VB12) and homocysteine (Hcy)are closely related to breast cancer. FA has a moderating effect on tumorthrough participating in synthesis of DNA and changing the methylationstatus of DNA.VB12as a coenzyme involves in one carbon metabolism,Lacking VB12may interfere the methylation, synthesis and repair ofDNA, leading to abnormal DNA expression. Hcy is a non-essentialamino acid containing sulfur radicals, it has a great effect on synthesis ofDNA. The correlation of FA, VB12and Hcy levels in patients with breastcancer are not completely understood. The purpose of the study is toinvestigate the association of serum FA, VB12and Hcy levels in patientswith breast cancer. The correlation of the three nutritions in the risk ofbreast cancer is investigated by comparing breast cancer with normalcontrol. The results will provide evidences of nutrition intake to preventbreast cancer as well as explore the pathogenesis of the disease. Methods:The study includes three groups of patients from the first BethuneHospital of Jilin University between February1and June30,2014.(1)Breast cancer group: including40cases of female patients with breastcancer, the range of age is41to65years old.(2) Breast hyperplasiagroup: including40cases of female patients with breast hyperplasia, therange of age is40to65years old.(3) Healthy control group: including40healthy women, the range of age is41to66years old. All patients arediagnosed by imaging and pathological examination. All the subjectsinvolved in the research have no disorders in liver function, kidneyfailure, severe disease of blood vessel symptoms and hypothyroidism,severe anemia, taking the drugs that affect metabolism of FA, VB12andHcy. Using statistical software SPSS to analyses the association ofserum FA, VB12and Hcy in patients with breast cancer, breasthyperplasia and normal control.Results:1. The level of serum FA is significantly decreased in breast cancergroup (11.55±3.26ng/ml) and breast hyperplasia group (11.61±3.52ng/ml) than in control group (13.21±3.21ng/ml).The level ofserum Hcy is significantly increased in breast cancer group(12.78±1.90umol/l) and breast hyperplasia group(12.05±2.00umol/l)than incontrol group(9.43±1.77umol/l). The level of serum VB12is slightlydecreased in breast cancer group (257.79±46.15pg/ml) and breast hyperplasia group (264.57±44.27pg/ml) than in healthy control group(240.65±48.82pg/ml).2. The Pearson correlation analysis shows that serum FA isnegatively correlated with Hcy (r=-0.515in the breast cancer group,r=-0.570in the breast hyperplasia group, r=-0.612in the control group).Other indicators have not correlations.3.Logistic regression analysis indicated that males with the lowestdouble of FA, Hcy compared with males with the highest double, theodds ratios(OR) are0.379(95%Cl0.150-0.962，P=0.041);19.000(95%Cl4.028-89.618, P<0.05) for breast cancer, males with the lowestdouble of VB12compared with males with the highest double, the oddsratios(OR) are3.444(95%Cl1.310-9.058， P=0.012) for breasthyperplasia, males with the lowest double of Hcy compared with maleswith the highest double, the odds ratios(OR) are12.330(95%Cl3.262-46.625, P<0.05) for breast hyperplasia.Conclusions:1. Serum FA is a protective factor for breast cancer.2. Serum Hcy is a risk factor for breast cancer.3. Serum concentration of FA is inversely correlated with the risk ofbreast cancer, whereas Hcy is directly associated with the risk of breastcancer. The detection of serum FA and Hcy regularly has certainguidance for preventing female breast cancer..