title: Association between RASSF1A promoter methylation and ovarian cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The RAS association domain family protein 1a gene (RASSF1A) is one of the tumor suppressor genes (TSG). Inactivation of RASSF1A is critical to the pathogenesis of cancer. Aberrant TSG methylation was considered an important epigenetic silencing mechanism in the progression of ovarian cancer. A number of studies have discussed association between RASSF1A promoter methylation and ovarian cancer. However, they were mostly based on a small number of samples and showed inconsist results, Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to better identify the association.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eligible studies were identified by searching the PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and CNKI databases using a systematic searching strategy. We pooled the odds ratio (ORs) from individual studies using a fixed-effects model. We performed heterogeneity and publication bias analysis simultaneously.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirteen studies, with 763 ovarian cancer patients and 438 controls were included in the meta-analysis. The frequencies of RASSF1A promoter methylation ranged from 30% to 58% (median is 48%) in the cancer group and 0 to 21% (median is 0) in the control group. The frequencies of RASSF1A promoter methylation in the cancer group were significantly higher than those in the control group. The pooled odds ratio was 11.17 (95% CI = 7.51-16.61) in the cancer group versus the corresponding control group under the fixed-effects model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggested that RASSF1A promoter methylation had a strong association with ovarian cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and the Ministry of Education Key Lab of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Ya
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaozhong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Lilan
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Changmei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.forename: Jiaqiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.forename: Yangxin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Shixuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Meixia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lu
mesh_terms: D019175:DNA Methylation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: C411762:RASSF1 protein, human; D025521:Tumor Suppressor Proteins