title: Effect of a common genetic variant microRNA-146a rs2910164 on colorectal cancer: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is emerging evidence that the microRNA-146a (miR-146a) rs2910164 polymorphism might be associated with the susceptibility to colorectal cancer (CRC). However, previous published studies have failed to achieve a definitive conclusion. We aimed to address this issue in an updated meta-analysis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A comprehensive literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, China BioMedicine, the Cochrane Library and Google Scholar to identify eligible studies. Case-control studies written in English that evaluated the association between miR-146a polymorphism and CRC were included. Odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were calculated in the quantitative synthesis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall seven case-control studies including a total of 2978 cases and 3576 cancer-free or healthy controls were enrolled in the meta-analysis. The results indicated that there was no association between miR-146a G/C rs2910164 polymorphism and CRC risk either in the overall analysis or among Asians, when stratified on the basis of ethnicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  miR-146a G/C genetic polymorphism was not related to the susceptibility to CRC.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Digestive Disease, Department of Digestive Disease, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China.
authors.forename: Wen Qun
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Shi Yun
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.forename: Xiao Fan
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D044466:Asian People; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic
chemical_list: C542542:MIRN146 microRNA, human; D035683:MicroRNAs
keywords: colorectal neoplasms; disease susceptibility; genetic polymorphism; meta-analysis; miR-146a; microRNAs