title: Association between RUNX3 promoter methylation and gastric cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Runt-related transcription factor 3 (RUNX3) is a member of the runt-domain family of transcription factors and has been reported to be a candidate tumor suppressor in gastric cancer. However, the association between RUNX3 promoter methylation and gastric cancer remains unclear.
  
  
  METHODS
  We systematically reviewed studies of RUNX3 promoter methylation and gastric cancer published in English or Chinese from January 2000 to January 2011, and quantified the association between RUNX3 promoter methylation and gastric cancer using meta-analysis methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 1740 samples in 974 participants from seventeen studies were included in the meta-analysis. A significant association was observed between RUNX3 promoter methylation and gastric cancer, with an aggregated odds ratio (OR) of 5.63 (95%CI 3.15, 10.07). There was obvious heterogeneity among studies. Subgroup analyses (including by tissue origin, country and age), meta-regression were performed to determine the source of the heterogeneity. Meta-regression showed that the trend in ORs was inversely correlated with age. No publication bias was detected. The ORs for RUNX3 methylation in well-differentiated vs undifferentiated gastric cancers, and in intestinal-type vs diffuse-type carcinomas were 0.59 (95%CI: 0.30, 1.16) and 2.62 (95%CI: 1.33, 5.14), respectively. There were no significant differences in RUNX3 methylation in cancer tissues in relation to age, gender, TNM stage, invasion of tumors into blood vessel or lymphatic ducts, or tumor stage.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis identified a strong association between methylation of the RUNX3 promoter and gastric cancer, confirming the role of RUNX3 as a tumor suppressor gene.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University, School of Medicine, 88 Jiefang Road, Hangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Xiao-yuan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.forename: Xin-lei
authors.initials: XL
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Tie-mei
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Na-na
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi-miao
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Wen
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Zhen-hua
authors.initials: ZH
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Chen-jing
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Zai-yuan
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Chun-mao
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Wen-sheng
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Pan
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D050677:Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D050677:Core Binding Factor Alpha 3 Subunit; C493729:Runx3 protein, human