title: Hsa-miR-499 rs3746444 polymorphism contributes to cancer risk: a meta-analysis of 12 studies.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) occurred in pre-microRNAs or targets of microRNAs (miRs) may contribute to cancer risks. Since 2007, many studies have investigated the association between common SNPs located on hsa-miR-499 (rs3746444) and cancer risks; however, the results were inconclusive.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We conducted a meta-analysis of 12 studies that included 5765 cases and 7076 controls to identify the strength of association. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were used to assess the strength of association. Overall, individuals with the variant AG (OR = 1.215, 95% CI: 1.027, 1.437; P(heterogeneity)<0.01) and AG/GG (OR = 1.227, 95% CI: 1.046, 1.439; P(heterogeneity)<0.01) genotypes were associated with a significantly increased risk of cancer than those with wild AA genotype. Sub-group analysis revealed that the variant AG (OR = 1.411, 95% CI: 1.142, 1.745; P(heterogeneity) = 0.01) and AG/GG (OR = 1.413, 95% CI: 1.163, 1.717, P(heterogeneity) = 0.01) genotypes still showed an increased risk of cancer in Asians; however, a trend of reduced risk of cancer was observed in Caucasians (AG vs. AA: OR = 0.948, 955 CI: 0.851, 1.057, P(heterogeneity) = 0.12; AG/GG vs. AA: OR = 0.959, 95% CI: 0.865, 1.064; P(heterogeneity) = 0.19). Meta-regression showed that ethnicity (p = 0.048) and sample size (p = 0.02) but not cancer types (p = 0.89) or source of control (p = 0.97) were the sources of heterogeneity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These meta-analysis results suggest that hsa-miR-499 polymorphism rs3746444 is associated with a significantly increased risk of cancer, especially in Asian populations.
authors.affiliation: The Fourth Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
authors.forename: Man-Tang
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.forename: Jing-Wen
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Xiang-Xiang
authors.initials: XX
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People / Q000235:genetics; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012306:Risk
chemical_list: C548683:MIRN499 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs