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MTHFR C677T polymorphism associated with breast cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis involving 15,260 cases and 20,411 controls

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

Published data on the association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and breast cancer risk are inconclusive. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, a meta-analysis was performed. Medline, PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science were searched. Crude ORs with 95% CIs were used to assess the strength of association between the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and breast cancer risk. The pooled ORs were performed with co-dominant model (CT vs. CC, TT vs. CC), dominant model (CT + TT vs. CC), and recessive model (TT vs. CC + CT), respectively. A total of 37 studies including 15,260 cases and 20,411 controls were involved in this meta-analysis. Overall, significantly elevated breast cancer risk was associated with TT variant genotype in homozygote comparison and dominant genetic model when all studies were pooled into the meta-analysis (TT vs. CC: OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.01–1.23; dominant model: OR = 1.04, 95% CI = 1.00–1.09). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significantly increased risks were found for TT allele carriers among Asians (TT vs. CC: OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.04–1.35; recessive model: OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.03–1.29). When stratified by study design, statistically significantly elevated risk was found in hospital-based studies (TT vs. CC: OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.02–1.38; recessive model: OR = 1.17, 95% CI = 1.05–1.29). In the subgroup analysis by menopausal status, statistically significantly increased risk was found among postmenopausal women (CT vs. CC: OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 1.02–1.23; dominant model: OR = 1.11, 95% CI = 1.01–1.22). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that the MTHFR T allele is a low-penetrant risk factor for developing breast cancer.

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  1. Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Jian Zhang, Li-Xin Qiu, Zhong-Hua Wang, Xiang-Hua Wu, Xiao-Jian Liu, Bi-Yun Wang & Xi-Chun Hu

  2. Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, China

    Jian Zhang, Li-Xin Qiu, Zhong-Hua Wang, Xiang-Hua Wu, Xiao-Jian Liu, Bi-Yun Wang & Xi-Chun Hu

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Zhang, J., Qiu, LX., Wang, ZH. et al. MTHFR C677T polymorphism associated with breast cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis involving 15,260 cases and 20,411 controls. Breast Cancer Res Treat 123, 549–555 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-010-0783-5

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