Catechol-O-methyltransferase gene Val158Met polymorphism and prostate cancer susceptibility

Prostate cancer is one of the most common and a serious malignancy of males and it is well reported that estrogen plays a pivotal role in prostate carcinogenesis. Catechol-O - methyltransferase (COMT) catalyzes the inactivation of estrogens. Several studies have investigated the association of COMT gene Val158Metpolymorphism with prostate cancer, but results were inconsistent and inconclusive. Hence, to assess this association, we performed a meta-analysis of all published case-control studies. Pubmed, Springer link, Google Scholar, Elsevier and Springer link databases were searched for case-control studies. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) was used as association measure. Statistical analysis was performed with the software program MIX and MetaAnalyst. In the current meta-analysis, 11 case control studies with 3381 prostate cancer cases and 3,276 healthy controls were considered. The results indicated no significant association between COMT Val158Met polymorphism and prostate cancer risk using allele contrast, co-dominant and homozygote models (allele contrast: OR= 0.92; 95% CI 0.85 to 0.98=; p= 0.02; co-dominant: OR=0.81; 95% CI= 0.85 to1.07; p= 0.46; homozygote: OR= 0.81; 95% CI= 0.70 to 0.95, p= 0.008), but showed significant association with dominant and recessive models (dominant: OR 1.18=; 95% CI= 1.03 to1.34; p= 0.01; recessive: OR= 1.54; 95% CI= 1.1 to 2.07; p = 0.003). In subgroup analysis meta-analysis using recessive genetic model showed significant association between COMT Val 158Met polymorphism and prostate cancer risk in both Asian and Caucasian populations. In conclusion, results of present meta-analysis supports that the COMT Val158Met polymorphism is risk factor for prostate cancer.