Relationship Between the Prohibitin 3’ Untranslated Region C > T Gene Polymorphism and Cancer Susceptibility - Results of a Meta-analysis

Abstract

<br/><b>Objective</b>: The results from the published studies on the association between prohibitin 3’ untranslatedregion C > T gene polymorphism and cancer risk are conflicting. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluatethe relationship with cancer susceptibility overall, and to explore whether the T allele or TT genotype couldbecome a predictive marker for cancer risk. <br/><b>Methods</b>: Association studies were identified from the databasesof PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library as of March 1, 2012, and eligible investigations were synthesizedusing the meta-analysis method. Results were expressed with odds ratios (OR) for dichotomous data, and 95%confidence intervals (CI) were also calculated. <br/><b>Results</b>: Six investigations were identified for the analysis ofassociation between the prohibitin 3’ untranslated region C > T gene polymorphism and cancer risk, covering of1,461 patients with cancer and 1,197 controls. There was a positive association between the T allele and cancersusceptibility (OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.03-1.39, P=0.02), and CC homozygous might play a protective role (OR=0.80,95% CI: 0.68-6.11, P=0.95). In the sub-group analysis, prohibitin 3’ untranslated region C > T gene polymorphismand cancer risk appeared associated with the risk of breast cancer, but not ovarian cancer. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Ourresults indicate that T allele is a significant genetic molecular marker to predict cancer susceptibility and CCgenotype is protective, especially for breast cancer. However, more investigations are required to further clarifythe association of the prohibitin 3’ untranslated region C > T gene polymorphism with cancer susceptibility.