MTHFR C677T polymorphism and pancreatic cancer risk: a meta-analysis

• Published in: Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP Vol. 13; no. 8; pp. 3763 - 3766
• Main Authors: Liu, Xiang-Ming, Liu, Feng-Hua, Tang, Yong, Li, Qiang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Thailand 01.01.2012
• Subjects: Case-Control Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Humans; Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase (NADPH2) - genetics; Pancreatic Neoplasms - etiology; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide - genetics; Risk Factors
• DOI: 10.7314/APJCP.2012.13.8.3763
• ISSN: 1513-7368

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme in the metabolism of folate, and the role of the MTHFR C677T polymorphism in pancreatic carcinogenesis is still controversial. A literature search was performed using Pubmed and CNKI databases for published studies through May 2012. We performed a meta-analysis of all relevant case-control studies that examined the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and pancreatic cancer risk. Finally, 9 individual case-control studies with a total of 1,299 pancreatic cancer cases and 2,473 controls were included into this meta-analysis. This meta- analysis showed there was an obvious association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and pancreatic cancer risk in East Asians (for allele model, OR = 1.67, 95%CI 1.11-2.51; For homozygote model, OR = 2.77, 95%CI 1.40-5.48; for recessive model, OR = 1.96, 95%CI 1.54-2.50; for dominant model, OR = 2.11, 95%CI 1.01-4.41). However, no significant association was found in Caucasians. The MTHFR C677T polymorphism is associated with pancreatic cancer risk, and a race-specific effect may exist in this association. More studies with a larger sample size are needed to further clarify this association.