Abstract: Objective 　The study aims to explore the association between the promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNPs) in MMP21 and MMP29 genes and susceptibility to adult brain ast rocytoma. Methods 　Two hundred and thirty2six patient s with ast rocytoma and 366 healthy cont rols were genotyped for the MMP21 21607 2 G/ 1 G and MMP29 21562 C/ T polymorphisms. Results 　(1) The overall dist ribu2 tion of the MMP21 allelotype and genotype among ast rocytoma patient s and healthy cont rols was signifi2 cantly different ( P = 0. 002 and P < 0. 001, respectively) . Compared with the 2 G/ 2 G genotype, the 1 G/1 G genotype significantly decreased the risk of development of ast rocytoma (adjusted OR = 0. 58, 95 %CI = 0. 42～0. 79), while the relationship between the 2 G/ 1 G genotype and ast rocytoma was not found (ad2 justed OR = 0. 74, 95 %CI = 0. 51～1. 08) . The similar result s were obtained when st ratified by gender and age at tumor diagnosis. (2) The overall allelotype and genotype dist ribution of the MMP29 SNP among cancer patient s and healthy cont rols were similar ( P > 0. 05) . Compare with the C/ C genotype, the C/ T + T/ T genotypes did not significantly influence the susceptibility to ast rocytoma (adjusted OR = 1. 09, 95 %CI = 0. 73～1. 64) . No significant difference in MMP29 genotype f requencies were observed between cancer patient s and healthy cont rols when st ratified by gender, age, and histological grading. Conclusion 　The MMP21 21607 2 G/ 1 G polymorphism significantly influences the susceptibility to ast ro2 cytoma, while the association between the MMP29 21562 C/ T polymorphism and the risk of ast rocytoma may not exist .