title: Association between cytosolic serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT1) gene polymorphism and cancer risk: a meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT1) is the key enzyme in the folate metabolic pathway to provide one-carbon unit that plays an important role in biosynthesis. Abnormal biosynthesis involved in DNA synthesis and methylation can lead to activation of oncogenes and inactivation of tumor suppressor genes. And the abnormal biosynthesis is closely related to a variety of common tumors' occurrence and development. A SNP in SHMT1 C1420T may effect the procession of biosynthesis and finally influence cancer occurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Comprehensive searches were performed on PubMed and EMBASE database. We used odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) to assess the strength of associations between SHMT1 C1420T polymorphism and cancer risk. Q-test, I(2), and funnel plot were used to assess the heterogeneity and publication bias.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Totally, 19 studies containing 9799 cases and 11,841 controls were performed in this meta-analysis. The results showed that there was no association between SHMT1 C1420T polymorphism and cancer risk. But in the subgroup analysis, the significant associations were found in colorectal cancer and Asian population. Publication bias was not observed in the analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results indicate that the SHMT1 C1420T polymorphism do not have a significant association with the risk of cancer overall. Otherwise, SHMT1 C1420T polymorphism may have a protective effect on colorectal cancer and Asian population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300, GuangZhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China. Electronic address: 9865.qian@163.com.
authors.forename: Qianqian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300, GuangZhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China. Electronic address: lukai_0000@163.com.
authors.forename: Kai
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300, GuangZhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China. Electronic address: 18262638611@163.com.
authors.forename: Haina
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300, GuangZhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China. Electronic address: zqzlhys@163.com.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300, GuangZhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China. Electronic address: ct55979@163.com.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300, GuangZhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China. Electronic address: shuyongqian@csco.org.cn.
authors.forename: Yongqian
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shu
authors.affiliation: Department of Colorectal Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300, GuangZhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China. Electronic address: 125235225@qq.com.
authors.forename: Yibing
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hua
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, 300, GuangZhou Road, Nanjing 210029, China. Electronic address: zhulingjun@njmu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lingjun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D012696:Glycine Hydroxymethyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D012696:Glycine Hydroxymethyltransferase; C520541:SHMT protein, human
keywords: Cancer risk; Colorectal cancer; Gene polymorphism; Meta-analysis; SHMT1