Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Genetic Polymorphisms and Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Susceptibility: A Meta-analysis of Case-control Studies

Abstract

<b>Background:</b> Genetic factors and environmental factors play a role in pathogenesis of esophageal squamouscell carcinoma (ESCC). Previous studies regarding the association of folate intake and Methylenetetrahydrofolatereductase C677T polymorphism with ESCC was conflicting. We conducted a meta-analysis to investigate theassociation of MTHFR C677T and folate intake with esophageal cancer risk. <br/><b>Methods</b>: MEDLINE, EMBASEand the Chinese Biomedical Database were searched in our study. The quality of studies were evaluated bypredefined scale, and The association of polymorphisms of MTHFR C677T and folate intake and ESCC riskwas estimated by Odds ratio (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). <br/><b>Results</b>: 19 studies (4239 cases and5575 controls) were included for meta-analysis. A significant association was seen between individuals withMTHFR 677 CT [OR(95%)=1.47(1.32-1.63)] and TT [OR(95%)=1.69(1.49-1.91)] genotypes and ESCC risk(p<0.05). Low intake of folate had significantly higher risk of esophageal cancer among individuals with CT/TTgenotype [OR(95%)=1.65(1.1-2.49)], while high intake of folate did not find significant high risk of esophagealcancer among individuals with CT/TT genotype [OR(95%)=1.64 (0.82-3.26)]. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Our meta-analysisindicated the folate intake and MTHFR 677CT/TT are associated with the risk of ESCC, and folate showed asignificant interaction with polymorphism of MTHFR C677T.