title: The polymorphisms in the MGMT gene and the risk of cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: Polymorphisms in the MGMT gene have been implicated in susceptibility to cancer, but the published studies have reported inconclusive results. The objective of the current study was to investigate the genetic risk of polymorphisms in the MGMT gene for cancer. A meta-analysis was carried out to analyze the association between polymorphisms in the MGMT gene and cancer risk. Five polymorphisms (Leu84Phe, Leu53Leu, Ile143Val, Lys178Arg, and -485C/A) with 98 case-control studies from 49 articles were analyzed. The results indicated that individuals who carried the Phe/Phe homozygote genotype of Leu84Phe had a 31 % increased risk of cancer compared with the Leu allele (Leu + Leu/Phe) carriers (odds ratio [OR] = 1.32, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-1.52, P < 0.0001 for Phe/Phe vs. Phe/Leu + Leu/Leu). However, there was no significant association between the risk of cancer and the other four polymorphisms (Leu53Leu, Ile143Val, Lys178Arg, and -485C/A). In further stratified analyses for the Leu84Phe and Ile143Val polymorphisms, the increased risk of cancer remained in subgroups of Caucasians, patients with esophageal cancer for the Leu84Phe polymorphism, and patients with lung cancer for the Ile143Val polymorphism. Results from the current meta-analysis suggested that Leu84Phe and Ile143Val in the MGMT gene are risk factors for cancer. In the future, more studies should be performed to validate our results.
authors.affiliation: West China Medical School/West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Guoxuexiang 37, Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China.
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Haichuan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Tianyuan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Yaxian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Jiqiao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Jichong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Xiaoze
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: He
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Jin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D019943:Amino Acid Substitution; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases / Q000235:genetics*; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins; D015254:DNA Modification Methylases; C515491:MGMT protein, human; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes