Abstract
BackgroundThe association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk was inconsistent and underpowered. To clarify the effects of MTHFR gene polymorphisms on the risk of HCC, a meta-analysis of all available studies relating C677T and/or A1298C polymorphisms of MTHFR gene to the risk of HCC was conducted.MethodsThe authors searched PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Chinese Biomedical Literature database (CBM) for the period up to July 2012. Data were extracted by two independent authors and pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was calculated. Metaregression and subgroup analyses were performed to identify the source of heterogeneity.ResultsFinally, 12 studies with 2,351 cases and 4,091 controls were included for C677T polymorphism and 6 studies with 1,333 cases and 1,878 controls were included for A1298C polymorphism. With respect to A1298C polymorphism, significantly decreased HCC risk was found in the overall population (CC vs. AA: OR = 0.660, 95%CI 0.460–0.946, P = 0.024; recessive model: OR = 0.667, 95%CI = 0.470–0.948, P = 0.024). In subgroup analyses, significantly decreased HCC risk was found in Asian population (CC vs. AA: OR = 0.647, 95%CI = 0.435–0.963; P = 0.032) and population-based studies (CC vs. AA: OR = 0.519, 95%CI = 0.327–0.823; P = 0.005). With respect to C677T polymorphism, no significant association with HCC risk was demonstrated in overall and stratified analyses.ConclusionsWe concluded that MTHFR A1298C polymorphism may play a protective role in the carcinogenesis of HCC. Further large and well-designed studies are needed to confirm this association.
Highlights
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, which is still a global health challenge [1,2]
A comprehensive search strategy was conducted towards the electronic databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Chinese Biomedical Literature database (CBM), using the search strategy based on combinations of the keywords ‘‘hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC’’ and ‘‘methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase, MTHFR, one-carbon metabolism or folate’’ and ‘‘polymorphism, mutation or variant’’
Study Characteristics Based on the search criteria, 14 studies relevant to the role of MTHFR gene polymorphisms on HCC susceptibility were identified
Summary
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most common cancer and the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, which is still a global health challenge [1,2]. Folate is a form of the water-soluble vitamin B9. It is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells and is involved in DNA methylation, DNA synthesis and DNA repair [3]. Some studies have indicated that folate deficiency could inuence cancer risk [4,5]. Methylenete trahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is a key enzyme for intracellular folate homeostasis and metabolism. It catalyses the irreversible conversion of 5,10methylenetetrahydrofolate to 5-methyltetrahydrofolate, which is the primary circulating form of folate and provides methyl groups for the methylation of homocysteine to methionine [6]. The association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk was inconsistent and underpowered. To clarify the effects of MTHFR gene polymorphisms on the risk of HCC, a meta-analysis of all available studies relating C677T and/or A1298C polymorphisms of MTHFR gene to the risk of HCC was conducted
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