Genetic polymorphisms of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene Ala222Val and susceptibility to ovary cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Many studies have reported the role of methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene Ala222Val polymorphism with ovary cancer risk, but the results remained controversial. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to assess the association between MTHFR Ala222Val polymorphism and ovary cancer risk. A total of 8 studies including 3,723 cases and 4,001 controls were also involved in this meta-analysis. When all the eligible studies were pooled into this meta-analysis, no significant association between ovary cancer risk and MTHFR Ala222Val polymorphism was found in all genetic models [codominant model: OR = 0.980, 95% CI = 0.756-1.270, P h = 0.088, P = 0.877; dominant model: OR = 1.022, 95% CI = 0.864-1.208, P h = 0.033, P = 0.803; recessive model: OR = 1.050, 95% CI = 0.803-1.373, P h = 0.032, P = 0.723; allele comparison model: OR = 1.028, 95% CI = 0.898-1.178, P h = 0.012, P = 0.685]. In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, no evidence of any associations of this polymorphism with ovary cancer was found in the Caucasian populations. Our meta-analysis supports that the MTHFR Ala222Val polymorphism is not contributed to the risk of ovary cancer from currently available evidence.