title: Meta-analysis of microsomal epoxide hydrolase gene polymorphism and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hepatocarcinogenesis is a complex process that may be influenced by many factors, including polymorphism in microsomal epoxide hydrolase (mEH). Previous work suggests an association between the Tyr113His and His139Arg mEH polymorphisms and susceptibility to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the results have been inconsistent.
  
  
  METHODS
  PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure databases were systematically searched to identify relevant studies. A meta-analysis was performed to examine the association between Tyr113His and His139Arg mEH polymorphism and susceptibility to HCC. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eleven studies were included in the meta-analysis, involving 1,696 HCC cases and 3,600 controls. The 113His- mEH allele was significantly associated with increased risk of HCC based on allelic contrast (OR = 1.35, 95% CI = 1.04-1.75, p = 0.02), homozygote comparison (OR = 1.65, 95% CI = 1.07-2.54, p = 0.02) and a recessive genetic model (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 1.21-1.96, p<0.001), while individuals carrying the Arg139Arg mEH genotype had no association with increased or decreased risk of HCC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The 113His- allele polymorphism in mEH may be a risk factor for hepatocarcinogenesis, while the mEH 139Arg- allele may not be a risk or protective factor. There is substantial evidence that mEH polymorphisms interact synergistically with other genes and the environment to modulate risk of HCC. Further large and well-designed studies are needed to confirm these conclusions.
authors: Hepatobiliary Surgery Department, Tumor Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, People's Republic of China.
authors: Jian-Hong
authors: JH
authors: Zhong
authors: Bang-De
authors: BD
authors: Xiang
authors: Liang
authors: L
authors: Ma
authors: Xue-Mei
authors: XM
authors: You
authors: Le-Qun
authors: LQ
authors: Li
authors: Gui-Sheng
authors: GS
authors: Xie
mesh_terms: D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases / Q000235:genetics*; D005006:Ethnicity; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: D004851:Epoxide Hydrolases