title: MTHFR C677T polymorphism and pancreatic cancer risk: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme in the metabolism of folate, and the role of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism in pancreatic carcinogenesis is still controversial.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature search was performed using Pubmed and CNKI databases for published studies through May 2012. We performed a meta-analysis of all relevant case-control studies that examined the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and pancreatic cancer risk.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Finally, 9 individual case-control studies with a total of 1,299 pancreatic cancer cases and 2,473 controls were included into this meta-analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This meta- analysis showed there was an obvious association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and pancreatic cancer risk in East Asians (for allele model, OR = 1.67, 95%CI 1.11-2.51; For homozygote model, OR = 2.77, 95%CI 1.40-5.48; for recessive model, OR = 1.96, 95%CI 1.54-2.50; for dominant model, OR = 2.11, 95%CI 1.01-4.41). However, no significant association was found in Caucasians.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The MTHFR C677T polymorphism is associated with pancreatic cancer risk, and a race-specific effect may exist in this association. More studies with a larger sample size are needed to further clarify this association.
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Therapy, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Xiang-Ming
authors.initials: XM
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Feng-Hua
authors.initials: FH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C573423:MTHFR protein, human; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)