title: Meta-analysis reveals an association between signal transducer and activator of transcription-4 polymorphism and hepatocellular carcinoma risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins play a multitude of important functions in liver pathophysiology. Recent studies have indicated associations of rs7574865 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the STAT4 gene with various autoimmune diseases. The association between STAT4 polymorphism and the risk of HCC has been analyzed in several studies, but results remain inconsistent. This study used a meta-analysis approach to comprehensively investigate the correlation between STAT4 polymorphism and HCC risk based on previously published reports.
  
  
  METHODS
  Studies were searched from the databases of PubMed, EMBase, Web of Science, and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure up to 31 December 2015. The meta-analysis was carried out based on the statement of Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight published studies, consisting of 7503 HCC patients (cases) and 13 831 individuals without HCC (controls), were included in the present study. Meta-analysis of the included studies revealed that STAT4 rs7574865 polymorphism contributed to the risk of HCC under all four genetic models, consisting of the allelic model (G vs. T: odds ratio [OR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19-1.30), the dominant effect model (GG + GT vs. TT: OR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.26-1.84), the recessive effect model (GG vs. GT + TT: OR, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.21-1.50), and the co-dominant effect model (GG vs.. TT: OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.42-2.10) comparisons. No publication bias was indicated from either visualization of the funnel plot or Egger's test.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A significantly increased risk of HCC associated with the rs7574865 G was found. The rs7574865 polymorphism might be used as one risk factor for HCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Kuihua
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Chuanmiao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, Anhui, China.
authors.forename: Jiasheng
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
keywords: STAT4; hepatocellular carcinoma; meta-analysis; rs7574865