A Meta-analysis on Relationship of MTHFR C677T Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Gastric Cancer

Objecive To clarify the effect of methylenetetrahdrofolate reductase(MTHFR) C677T polymorphism on the susceptibility to gastric cancer by Meta-analysis. Methods We performed a computerized search of PubMed, EMBASE, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database(CBM), China Science and Technology Journal Database(CSTJ), Chinese Journal Full-text Database(CJFD) to identity case-control studies on the relationship between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and the susceptibility to gastric cancer. We also retrieved the references of the included studies. Statistic analysis and heterogeneity test were conducted by StataSE12. Results Thirty studies were included, with 8 161 cases of gastric cancer and 9 926 controls. MTHFR C677T mutation genotype CT+TT was associated with 1.31 times of risk of gastric cancer compared with CC(C677C) genotype (95%CI: 1.14-1.50). Subgroup analysis showed an increased risk in the Asians (OR=1.35，95%CI: 1.16-1.58), but no association in the North Americans (OR=0.93, 95%CI: 0.41-2.11) or the Europeans (OR=1.25, 95%CI: 0.81-1.93). Sensitivity analysis showed stable synthesized values, but unstable in the North Americans or the Europeans. The funnel plot and Egger's test provided the evidence of publication bias. Conclusion MTHFR C677T mutation genotype may contribute to the susceptibility to gastric cancer in the Asians.