title: Genetic polymorphism of MTHFR A1298C and esophageal cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Associations between the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) A1298C polymorphism and esophageal cancer risk have been reported in many articles recently, but results were controversial. Therefore the present meta-analysis was conducted to to provide a more precise estimation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the strength of associations.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Finally, six case- control studies involving a total of 1,302 cases and 2,391controls for the A1298C polymorphism were included. The meta-analysis showed that significantly increased risk for Asians (CC versus AA, OR=3.799, 95%CI=1.541-9.365, P=0.004; CCversusCA+AA, OR=3.997, 95%CI=1.614-9.900, P=0.003) and Caucasians (CC versus AA, OR=1.797, 95%CI=1.335-2.418, P=0.000; CC+CA versus AA,OR=1.240, 95%CI=1.031-1.492, P=0.022; CCversusCA+AA, OR=1.693, 95%CI=1.280-2.240, P=0.000). In addition, there was an association with risk for both ESCC (CC versus AA, OR=2.529, 95%CI=1.688-3.788, P=0.000; CCversusCA+AA, OR=2.572, 95%CI=1.761-3.758, P=0.000) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) (CC versus AA, OR=1.592, 95%CI=1.139-2.227, P=0.007; CC+CA versus AA,OR=1.247, 95%CI=1.016-1.530, P=0.035; CCversusCA+AA, OR=1.466, 95%CI=1.069-2.011, P=0.018).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis suggested associations of the A1298C polymorphism with increased risk of esophageal cancer in both Asians and Caucasians. In addition, we found that the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism might influence risk ofESCC and EAC in the overall studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi, China.
authors.forename: Xiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Yong-Yong
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Xu-Qiang
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Ming-Wu
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) / Q000235:genetics*; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C573423:MTHFR protein, human; D042965:Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2)