Background: Chemotherapy for primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is based on methotrexate (MTX), which interferes with both nucleic acid synthesis and methionine metabolism. We have reported previously that genetic variants with influence on methionine metabolism are associated with MTX side effects, that is, the occurrence of white matter lesions as a sign of MTX neurotoxicity. Here, we investigated whether such variants are associated with MTX efficacy in terms of overall survival in MTX-treated PCNSL patients.
Methods: We analysed seven genetic variants influencing methionine metabolism in 68 PCNSL patients treated with systemic and facultative intraventricular MTX-based polychemotherapy (Bonn protocol).
Results: Median age at diagnosis was 59 years (range: 28-77), 32 patients were female. Younger age (Wald=8.9; P=0.003) and the wild-type C (CC) allele of the genotype transcobalamin c (Tc2). 776C>G (Wald=6.7; P=0.010) were associated with longer overall survival in a multivariate COX regression analysis.
Conclusion: This observation suggests that the missense variant Tc2. 776C>G influences both neurotoxicity and efficacy of MTX in the Bonn PCNSL protocol.