title: The TNF-alpha-238 polymorphism and cancer risk: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) plays a very important role in the development and progress of cancer. Some TNF-α polymorphisms have been confirmed to increase cancer risks; however, the association between TNF-α-238 polymorphism and cancers remains controversial and ambiguous. The aim of this study is to explore a more precise estimation of its relationship with cancer using meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Electronic searches of several databases were conducted for all publications on the association between this variant and cancer through March 2011. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to access the strength of this association in the random-effect model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty four studies with 34,679 cancer patients and 41,186 healthy controls were included. This meta-analysis showed no significant association between TNF-α-238 polymorphism and cancers (AA+GA vs GG: OR = 1.09, 95%CI = 0.88-1.34). In Caucasian and Asian subgroups, OR values (95% CI) were 1.14 (0.91-1.43) and 0.97 (0.58-1.61), respectively. In the subgroups of cancer type, no significant association was detected. The sensitivity analysis further strengthened the validity of these negative associations. No publication bias was observed in this study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No significant association was found between the TNF-α-238 polymorphism and the risk for cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital to Nantong University, Wuxi, China.
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Guo-Qiang
authors.initials: GQ
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.forename: Jian-Zhong
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cheng-Wan
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Liang-Feng
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jian-Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D016001:Confidence Intervals; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008957:Models, Genetic; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D017594:Publication Bias; D012307:Risk Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha