Association between p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and colorectal cancer risk in Asian population: a meta-analysis

Abstract

Although several published studies have investigated the association between p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC), their results have been ambiguous. To examine the overall relationship between published case–control studies of Asian subjects, we conducted a meta-analysis based on 13 studies. Databases PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, and the Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure were screened for studies carried out up to November 1, 2017. To evaluating the association, crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated. The results of our meta-analysis indicated that the p53 Arg72Pro gene polymorphism does not correlate with the risk of CRC in the pooled analysis. However, significant results were found in Chinese population (allele model: OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.03-1.53; homozygous model: OR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.09-2.40; recessive model: OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.22-1.82). Moreover, in subgroup analyses, the Pro/Pro genotype was significantly associated with rectal cancer, and not colon cancer. Stratification by source of control and gender indicated that Pro/Pro genotype and Pro allele also correlated with CRC risk in the population-based subgroup and in men. Thus, our current meta-analysis indicates no evidence for the association between the p53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and CRC risk in the Asian population, but significant association in Chinese population, especially for rectal cancer and in men. Further research with larger population sizes is still warranted to confirm this result.