PLCE1 rs2274223 polymorphism and susceptibility to esophageal cancer: a meta-analysis

To investigate and study the relationship between the PLCE1 rs2274223 gene polymorphism and susceptibility to esophageal cancer by meta-analysis.

The literature was searched in Wanfang, CNKI, PubMed, CBM, Web of Science, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Springer, Elsevier and Cochrane databases from the date of January 1st 2004 to April 1st 2014 to collect case-control studies on the PLCE1 polymorphism and susceptibility to esophageal cancer. For the population genotype distributions of both esophagus cancer and control groups, their odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were taken as effect indexes. Disqualified studies were excluded. Odds ratios of PLCE1 rs2274223 genotype distributions in the group of patients with esophageal cancer and the group of healthy control were calculated. The meta- analysis software, RevMan5.0, was applied for heterogeneity test, pooled OR and 95% confidence intervals. Sensitivity analysis and publication bias were also explored.

A total of twelve case-control studies were included, covering a total of 9, 912 esophageal cancer cases and 13, 023 controls were included. The pooled odds ratio of PLCE1 rs2274223 genotype GA vs AA was 1.29 (95%CI=1.17~1.43), p<0.01, GG vs AA was 1.65 (95%CI=1.32~2.05), p<0.01, GG/GA vs AA was 1.30 (95%CI=1.16~1.46), p<0.01 and GG vs GA/AA was 1.48 (95%CI=1.22~1.80), p<0.01. The PLCE1 rs2274223 polymorphism was thus associated with risk of esophageal cancer in all genetic models. In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, and source of controls, no significantly increased risk was observed for white persons. There was no obvious publication bias detected.

This meta-analysis showed there was a significantly association between PLCE1 rs2274223 polymorphism and esophageal cancer in yellow race populations. Due to some minor limitations, our findings should be confirmed in further studies.