Abstract
Background: Associations between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) A1298C polymorphismand esophageal cancer risk have been reported in many articles recently, but results were controversial. Thereforethe present meta-analysis was conducted to to provide a more precise estimation.
Methods: Odds ratios (ORs)with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the strength of associations.
Results: Finally, six casecontrolstudies involving a total of 1,302 cases and 2,391controls for the A1298C polymorphism were included. Themeta-analysis showed that significantly increased risk for Asians (CC versus AA, OR=3.799, 95%CI=1.541-9.365,P=0.004; CCversusCA+AA, OR=3.997, 95%CI=1.614-9.900, P=0.003) and Caucasians (CC versus AA, OR=1.797,95%CI=1.335-2.418, P=0.000; CC+CA versus AA,OR=1.240, 95%CI=1.031-1.492, P=0.022; CCversusCA+AA,OR=1.693, 95%CI=1.280-2.240, P=0.000). In addition, there was an association with risk for both ESCC (CCversus AA, OR=2.529, 95%CI=1.688-3.788, P=0.000; CCversusCA+AA, OR=2.572, 95%CI=1.761-3.758, P=0.000)and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) (CC versus AA, OR=1.592, 95%CI=1.139-2.227, P=0.007; CC+CA versusAA,OR=1.247, 95%CI=1.016-1.530, P=0.035; CCversusCA+AA, OR=1.466, 95%CI=1.069-2.011, P=0.018).
Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested associations of the A1298C polymorphism with increased risk ofesophageal cancer in both Asians and Caucasians. In addition, we found that the MTHFR A1298C polymorphismmight influence risk ofESCC and EAC in the overall studies.
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