COMT alleles and Green Tea

Hi Lisey:

Re: "thus we are prone to BC." I am not sure the link between low COMT activity and risk for breast cancer is well-established. See for example the conflicting studies cited in this meta-analaysis and the results of the meta analysis:

Qin et al., Diagnostic Pathology, (2012)

"The exact relationship between genetic polymorphisms of COMT Val158Met and susceptibility to breast cancer has not been entirely established. . .

In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that the COMT Val158Met polymorphism may not be associated with breast cancer risk. However, it is necessary to conduct large sample studies using standardized unbiased genotyping methods, homogeneous breast cancer patients, and well-matched controls. Moreover, gene-gene and gene-environment interactions should also be considered in the analysis. Such studies taking these factors into account may eventually lead to a better, more comprehensive understanding of the association between COMT Val158Met polymorphism and BC risk."

Of course, this analysis was published in 2012. Does your report provide citations to more recent studies that clearly establish a link between genotype and/or phenotype and risk for breast cancer?

BarredOwl

[Edit: added some text in bold font]

Hi Lisey:

I was questioning the link between the polymorphism and risk for breast cancer. I have edited my post above to clarify that. Sorry for any confusion.

According to the abstract for the Chinese study, that study appears to have investigated possible "associations of breast cancer survival with genetic polymorphisms" in certain genes. The abstract concludes: "Results from this study suggest that rs4680 in the COMT gene and rs4646903 in the CYP1A1 gene may be genetic markers for breast cancer prognosis in Chinese women."

(I note that use of the word "may" often indicates that the results of a study were not conclusive, so it would be important to access the full article to understand what was actually shown, what the possible limitations are, and whether they note any conflicting studies.)

In any event, whether or not the polymorphism may (or may not) be a useful biomarker with "prognostic" information about breast cancer survival in certain patients already diagnosed with breast cancer is a completely different question from whether it may or may not confer some risk for breast cancer (i.e., whether carriers are "are prone to BC" as you stated in your original post).

BarredOwl

This is what the science forum is all about. The development of the pro and con discussion of studies. Right now there is discussion going on about a Main Board posted study.

Please, BO and Lisey, join the discussion there. My ultimate thoughts regarding the goal of what I think we can accomplish is challenging studies. Please, read the thread. I was steaming in the beginning as the study was so insulting to the whole cancer community, but the very worst is it can be damaging for years. if not decades.

The thread is evolving and the Mods have been very responsive. The Medical Director Dr W has made a statement that will be added to the offending main board topic.

Lisey, based on your Kalios results, I am going to have it done. It's the biggest bang for the buck. Made that decision when the discussion was on the 2D6 thread, but haven't got my butt in gear.

How do you reach them?

Lisey, I looked at the COMT gene...I bet alot of us here have some sort of snp, or polymorphism( somatic mutation) to those alleles....possibly even a germ-line ( from gestational genetic transfer) mutation.

Good call on sharing your findings...and that test panel looks like a good deal😎 I am going to pursue that one..Thank You!

I am wondering, though...are you MTHFR positive? Did that show up as a positive on your panel? If so Hetrozygote or Homozygote? 30+percent of the Caucasian population tests positive for that mutation( and that can, and does include those who genetically, primarily Caucasian, such as my deceased step mom, who thought she was half French Creole( black gene type) and half German....guess what, her major gene pool was Caucasian when she was tested...so you never really know until the genetic test.."sings", as they say)

Other genotypes also carry one or two copies of the MTHFR gene, but I cannot recall the % of each type.

In MTHFR, your methyl donors do not "convert" correctly...this is a simple explanation, as you really need to find out which pathways are affected and how..rapid metabolizer, intermediate, delayed, etc.

The take away from MTHFR is the fact that your female body does not convert, nor detox estrogens along the correct pathway......in my case my androgens like to stay androgens and NOT convert into E1, E2, but into E3...,Estrone....not good. I also run low on Vasopressin and Aldosterone...tough two to correctly supplement/ replace.

The other term for the MTHFR gene is "Hyperhomocysteinemia ".........not a long shot to realize why Cancer researchers have looked at Statins as a co- treatment for BC....all hormones originate from Cholesterol.....and cascade down the "correct" hormonal pathway.... That is if all genetic pathways are a "Go"

Certain genetic clotting disorders also effect Estrogen metabolism via the Cytochrome P450 pathways, amoungst others. Factor V Leiden is one such germ line example. The somatic or aquired version of that gene is "Activated Protein C Resistance

This is a elementary discussion of the subject, but these pathways are involved in "many things"

Lisey, below is the NIH site regarding the mutation.....I posted this one for you, versus some of the other sites, since I felt that there are some rather "bogus" claims made on some other sites, laughable, actually!

I take Deplin, a prescription form of methyl folate, as well as a methylized form of B-12, and TMG.....this is a dipeptide which helps to convert your methyl donors correctly. Care is needed here, as these supplements thin out even this Factor V Leiden Hetrozygote's blood. I have to spilt the 12.5mg dose of Deplin in half or I will bruise up like a Texas peach!

I had a Hemotologist run a ISAC ( Immune System Activation of Coagulation) panel back in 2004 due to the fact that my father threw a DVT on a flight to Germany and later tested FVL positive- Hetrozygote

There are several health issues that can, and are related to this mutation....one of which is spinal bifida

My aunt had a child(Amy) with a "low level" of SB...is there really such a thing as a low level? Well, she is cognitively fine...actually a MENSA, but is unable to walk ( lives in a wheelchair) and has made it to age 40, so she has beaten "some of the odds against her" She is quite the character and teaches online courses at a community college in Michigan. When my aunt( who is a MD)was preggers, she took all the recommended pre- natal vitamins. But, Folic Acid does not covert "correctly" in true, germ-line MTHFR, and this brought about the neural tube defect that cousin Amy suffers from.

https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/gene/MTHFR#resources