Moderately high folate level may offset the effects of aberrant DNA methylation of P16 and P53 genes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and precancerous lesions.

The interactions between a high folate level and unmethylated p16 and p53 promoter regions may have a strong preventive effect on esophageal carcinogenesis. Additionally, a high folate level may offset the tumor-promoting effects of aberrant DNA methylation of the genes, but it is also noteworthy that a very high level of folate may not have a protective effect on EPL in some cases.