title: The association ofTNF-308 (G/A) gene polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma risk: a meta-analysis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Many studies have examined the association between theTNF-308 G/A polymorphism gene polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma risk in various populations, but their results have been inconsistent. To assess this relationship more precisely, a meta-analysis was performed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The PubMed and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure) database was searched for case-control studies. Odds ratios (OR) with 95% CIs were used to determine the strength of association between theTNF-308 G/A polymorphisms and HCC risk. The pooled ORs for the risk associated with theTNF-308 G/A genotype, the A carriers (A/G + A/A)vs. the wild-type homozygotes (G/G), A/Avs. G/G were calculated, respectively. Subgroup analyses were done by ethnicity and smoking status. Heterogeneity assumptions were assessed by chi-square-basedQ-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ultimately, 21 studies, comprising 2,923 hepatocellular carcinoma cases and 4,323 controls were included. Overall, the A carriers (G/A + A/A)vs. the wild-type homozygotes (G/G), the pooled OR was 1.05 (95% CI, 0.93-1.19; P=0.000 for heterogeneity), for A/Avs. G/G the pooled OR was 1.07 (95% CI, 0.95-1.21; P=0.007 for heterogeneity). In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, the significantly risks were found among non-Asians. However, for Asians, significantly risks were not found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  TheTNF-308 G/A polymorphisms are not associated with hepatocellular carcinoma risk among Asians, but for non-Asians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Wuxi 2nd People's Hospital, Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China.
authors.forename: Qing
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Wuxi 2nd People's Hospital, Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China.
authors.forename: Xuedan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Wuxi 2nd People's Hospital, Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China.
authors.forename: Qi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Wuxi 2nd People's Hospital, Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi 214002, China.
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
keywords: TNF-308; hepatocellular carcinoma; polymorphism; susceptibility