title: GSTM3 A/B polymorphism and risk for head and neck cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Glutathione S-transferase M3 (GSTM3) is an important member of the GSTs that plays a critical role in the development of head and neck cancer (HNC). Several studies have investigated between the GSTM3 A/B polymorphism and risk of HNC, however, the results remain controversial. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the association between the GSTM3 A/B polymorphism and the risk of HNC.
  
  
  METHODS
  All eligible case-control studies published up to July 2013 were identified by searching PubMed and Web of Science. The HNC risk associated with the GSTM3 A/B polymorphism was estimated for each study by odds ratios (OR) together with its 95% confidence interval (CI), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fourteen studies from ten publications with 2110 patients and 2259 controls were included. Overall, the GSTM3 A/B polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of HNC using the dominant model, homozygote comparison model and heterozygote comparison model (OR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.71-0.94; OR = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.49-0.94; and OR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.73-0.97, respectively); besides, in stratification analyses by ethnicity, similar results were observed in Caucasian populations. Stratification by tumor site indicated that the GSTM3 polymorphism was associated with a decreased risk of laryngeal cancer under recessive model and homozygote comparison (OR = 0.52, 95%CI: 0.30-0.89; and OR = 0.50, 95%CI: 0.29-0.87, respectively); By stratifying source of control, decreased cancer risk was observed in hospital-based population under all genetic models (OR = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.56-0.81 for the dominant model; OR = 0.66, 95%CI: 0.46-0.95 for the recessive model; OR = 0.55, 95%CI: 0.37-0.83 for the homozygote comparison model, and OR = 0.70, 95%CI: 0.58-0.84 for the heterozygote comparison model).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This meta-analysis suggests that the GSTM3 A/B polymorphism may be an important protective factor for HNC, especially of laryngeal cancer and Caucasian populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
authors.forename: Weiguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D018740:Genetic Heterogeneity; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide / Q000235:genetics*; D017594:Publication Bias; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: C483009:GSTM3 protein, human; D005982:Glutathione Transferase