Association between MTHFR C677T, MTHFR A1298C and MS A2756G polymorphisms and risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia II/III and cervical cancer: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Numerous case-control studies on the association between polymorphisms of key genes involved in methionine remethylation [methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) and methionine synthase (MS)] and the susceptibility of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and cervical cancer have provided inconclusive results. The aim of the present meta-analysis was to determine the effects of two MTHFR (C677T and A1298C) and one MS gene polymorphism (A2756G) on the risk of CIN II/III or cervical cancer. Relevant data were retrieved following a systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, MEDLINE and Wanfang Data up to November 2012. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated from eligible studies by meta-analysis with subgroup analyses stratified by ethnicity. A total of 13 studies with 1,936 cases and 2,858 controls were included in the present meta-analysis. An increased risk of cervical cancer was found in Asian women with the MTHFR 677T allele (TT vs. CC: OR=1.41, 95% CI=1.07-1.86, P=0.01; TT vs. CC+CT: OR=1.38, 95% CI=1.08-1.75, P=0.008), while a decreased risk was observed in Caucasian women (TT vs. CC: OR=0.65, 95% CI=0.45-0.93, P=0.02; TT+CT vs. CC: OR=0.7, 95% CI=0.58-0.86, P=0.0005). No effects of MTHFR C677T polymorphism on CIN II/III risk and MTHFR A1298C or MS A2756G polymorphisms on cervical cancer risk were detected. The sensitivity analysis suggested stability of this meta-analysis and no publication bias was detected. The MTHFR 677T allele may enhance the risk of cervical cancer in the Asian female population and play a protective role in Caucasian females. However, limited association is suggested between MTHFR A1298C and MS A2756G polymorphisms with cervical tumorigenesis.