title: Association of BRCA2 N372H polymorphism with cancer susceptibility: a comprehensive review and meta-analysis.
abstract: BRCA2 gene plays an important role in homologous recombination. Polymorphic variants in this gene has been suggested to confer cancer susceptibility. Numerous studies have investigated association between BRCA2 N372H polymorphism and risk of several cancers, especially breast cancer. However, the results were inconsistent. We performed a comprehensive meta-analysis to provide a more precise assessment of the association between N372H and cancer risk, following the latest meta-analysis guidelines (PRISMA). Forty six studies involving 36299 cases and 48483 controls were included in our meta-analysis. The crude ORs and the 95% CIs were used to evaluate the strength of the association. The results indicated that the BRCA2 N372H variant was significantly associated with an increased risk of overall cancer (dominant model: OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 1.01-1.13; recessive model: OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02-1.23). Moreover, stratified analyses by the cancer type and source of control observed significantly increased risk associated with BRCA2 N372H in subgroups with ovarian cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and population-based controls, but not breast cancer or hospital-based controls. We also found such association among Africans. Overall, the meta-analysis suggested that BRCA2 N372H may be a cancer susceptibility polymorphism. Well-designed and large-scale studies are needed to substantiate the association between BRCA2 N372H polymorphism and cancer risk.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Experimental Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Wen-Qiong
authors.initials: WQ
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Experimental Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Qiao
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory and Laboratory Medicine, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jin-Hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Thoracic Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin 150040, Heilongjiang, China.
authors.forename: Jian-Qun
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Experimental Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Department of Experimental Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, Guangdong, China.
authors.forename: Wei-Hua
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Jia
mesh_terms: D024682:BRCA2 Protein / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D056726:Genetic Association Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D024682:BRCA2 Protein; C551750:BRCA2 protein, human