Polymorphisms in IL-4/IL-13 pathway genes and glioma risk: an updated meta-analysis

Polymorphisms in interleukin (IL)-4/IL-13 pathway genes have previously been reported to be associated with glioma susceptibility, although results are inconsistent. We therefore performed an updated meta-analysis to determine a more precise estimation of this relationship. Twelve eligible studies were identified by searching PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library electronic databases. Nine polymorphisms in genes within the IL-4/IL-13 pathway (IL-4 rs2243250, rs2070874, rs2243248, IL-4R rs1805011, rs1805012, rs1805015, rs1801275, and IL-13 rs20541 and rs1800925) were assessed for their relationship with glioma risk by computing odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). Akaike's information criterion (AIC) was used to identify the best genetic model for each polymorphism. No association between IL-4/IL-13 pathway genetic polymorphisms and glioma risk was observed in the overall population, although a significant association was found between rs2234248 and glioblastoma when stratified by histological subtype (log-additive model, OR 1.57, 95 % CI 1.11-2.24). This meta-analysis therefore suggested that IL-4/IL-13 pathway genetic polymorphisms are not associated with glioma risk.