Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism and Cervical Cancer Risk: a Meta-Analysis

Background: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme in the metabolism of folate,and the role of MTHFR C677T polymorphism in cervical carcinogenesis is still controversial.
Method: Weperformed a meta-analysis of all relevant case-control studies that examined any association between the C677Tpolymorphism and cervical cancer risk. We estimated summary odds ratios (ORs) with their confidence intervals(CIs) to assess links.
Results: Finally, 10 studies with a total of 2113 cervical cancer cases and 2804 controls wereincluded. Results from this meta-analysis showed that significantly elevated cervical cancer risk was associatedwith the MTHFR T allele in the Asian population under conditions of two genetic comparison models (for TTvs. CC, OR = 1.37, 95%CI 1.00-1.87, P = 0.050; for TT vs. TC+CC: OR = 1.34, 95%CI 1.01-1.77, P = 0.039).However, there was no obvious association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and cervical cancer riskin the other populations.
Conclusion: The MTHFR C677T polymorphism is associated with cervical cancer riskin Asians, while any possible link in the Caucasian population needs further studies.