MTHFR Gene Polymorphisms are Not Involved in Pancreatic Cancer Risk: A Meta-analysis

Purpose: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) gene polymorphisms have been reported to be associated with pancreatic cancer, but the published studies have yielded inconsistent results. This study assessed the relationship between MTHFR gene polymorphisms and the risk for pancreatic cancer using a meta-analysis approach. Methods: A search of Google scholar, PubMed, Cochrane Library and CNKI databases before April 2012 was performed, and then associations of the MTHFR polymorphisms with pancreatic cancer risk were summarized. The association was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Publication bias was also calculated. Results: Four relative studies on MTHFR gene polymorphisms (C667T and A1298C) were included in this meta-analysis. Overall, C667T (TT vs. CC: OR=1.61,95% CI=0.78-3.34; TT vs. CT: OR=1.41,95% CI=0.88-2.25; Dominant model: OR=0.68,95% CI=0.40-1.17; Recessive model: OR=0.82,95% CI=0.52-1.30) and A1298C (CC vs. AA: OR=1.01,95% CI=0.47-2.17; CC vs. AC: OR=0.99,95% CI=0.46-2.14; Dominant model: OR=1.01, 95% CI=0.47-2.20; Recessive model: OR=1.01,95% CI=0.80-1.26) did not increase pancreatic cancer risk. Conclusions: This meta-analysis indicated that MTHFR polymorphisms (C667T and A1298C) are not associated with pancreatic cancer risk.