Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) A1298C polymorphism and risk of lung cancer

Recent epidemiological studies have reported association between methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms and lung cancer. The aim of the present study to perform a meta-analysis of published studies to validate the association between MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and risk of lung cancer.PubMed, Springer Link, Science Direct and Google Scholar databases were searched for eligible studies. Of the 78 initially identified studies, 11 case-control studies with 5,996 patients and 7,404 healthy controls were finally included in the present meta-analysis. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated to assess the association, and all statistical analyses were performed using MIX software (version 1.7). No statistically significant associations were found between the MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and lung cancer risk in the additive/ allele contrast, co-dominant/heterozygote, homozygote, dominant and recessive genetic models (C vs. A: OR= 0.95, 95% CI= 0.83-1.08; CC vs. AA: OR= 1.13, 95% CI= 0.83-1.5; AC vs. AA: OR= 0.86, 95% CI= 0.70-1.02; AC+CC vs. AA: OR= 0.89, 95% CI= 0.75-1.05; CC vs. AA+AC: OR= 1.20, 95% CI= 0.89-1.40). Significant heterogeneity between individual studies was evident in all five models. In conclusion, present meta-analysis results indicated that there is no significant association between MTHFR A1298C polymorphism and risk of lung cancer.