Updated Meta-analysis of the TP53 Arg72Pro Polymorphism and Gastric Cancer Risk

Objective: The p53 tumor suppressor pathway plays an important role in gastric cancer (GC) development.Auto-regulatory feedback control of p53 expression is critical to maintaining proper tumor suppressor function. Sofar, several studies between p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and GC have generated controversial and inconclusiveresults.
Methods: To better assess the purported relationship, we performed a meta-analysis of 19 publications.Eligible studies were identified by searching the Pubmed database. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidenceintervals (CIs) were estimated to assess any link.
Results: Overall, a significant association was detected betweenthe p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and GC risk (Pro-allele vs. Arg-allele: OR = 1.05, 95%CI = 1.01-1.08; Pro/Provs. Arg/Arg: OR = 1.13, 95%CI = 1.04-1.22). Moreover, on stratified analysis by race, significantly increased riskwas found for Asian populations (Pro-allele vs. Arg-allele: OR = 1.06, 95%CI = 1.02-1.10; Pro/Pro vs. Arg/Arg:OR = 1.16, 95%CI = 1.07-1.26; Pro/Pro+Pro/Arg vs. Arg/Arg: OR = 1.58, 95%CI = 1.09-2.27).
Conclusions: Ourstudy provided evidence that the p53 72Pro allele may increase GC risk in Asians. Future studies with largersample size are warranted to further confirm this association in more detail.