title: A meta-analysis of the relationship between NAT2 polymorphism and colorectal cancer susceptibility.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although the association between N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) polymorphism and colorectal cancer (CRC) susceptibility in humans has been extensively investigated, the results are contradictory. The aim of this study was to conduct a meta-analysis of published studies to quantitatively summarize the association between NAT2 polymorphism and risk of CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Relevant studies that had investigated NAT2 polymorphism and CRC susceptibility were identified through a comprehensive search of Pubmed, EMBASE, Medline, Biosis, Wiley-Blackwell, ISI Web of Knowledge, CNKI, and Chinese Biomedicine Database until October 2011. After selection based on the inclusion and exclusion criteria, the relevant data were extracted from each study, and finally a meta-analysis was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight phenotype studies (791 cases and 1158 controls) and 45 genotype studies (13 875 cases and 18 879 controls) were included in the present meta-analysis. The pooling of phenotype studies showed no significant association between the NAT2 acetylator status and CRC susceptibility (rapid acetylator, OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 0.92-1.89, P=0.14; slow acetylator, OR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.53-1.09, P=0.14). The combined ORs for rapid and slow acetylator status and CRC risk in genotype studies were 1.01 (95% CI, 0.94-1.08; P=0.86) and 0.99 (95% CI, 0.93-1.06; P=0.86), respectively. In the subgroup analysis by regions, no increased risks were found in Asians, Europeans, Americans, or Australasians. Pooling studies were also conducted on the groups of gender, specific tumor sites, and smoking status, but no significant association in genotype distribution between CRC and control was found as well.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results of our meta-analysis suggest that there is no overall association between NAT2 polymorphism and CRC susceptibility.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, 1 Youyi Road, Yuanjiagang, Yuzhong district, 400016 Chongqing, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Zhong-xue
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Chun-yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Yi-wu
authors.initials: YW
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D001191:Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase; C478900:NAT2 protein, human