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Tumor necrosis factor alpha-238G/A polymorphism and risk of breast cancer: An update by meta-analysis
Qing Zhang1, Guang Sheng Zhao, Xiao Lin Yuan
1Central Laboratory Department of Interventional Therapy, Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital of Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning Province, China.
Background:
The association between the tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene (TNF-a) -238G/A polymorphism and the breast cancer has been analyzed in several studies, but the results have been inconclusive. We then performed a meta-analysis to get a precise estimation of the association.
Methods:
Eight case-control studies with a total of 37,257 cases and 39,564 controls were identified by searching the ISI Web of Knowledge database and the PubMed database up to August 2014.
Results:
Overall, no association was found between TNF-alpha-238G/A polymorphism and breast cancer in any of genetic model (additive model OR = 1.06, 95%CI: 0.94-1.21, Pheterogeneity = .02; homozygous model OR = 1.04, 95%CI: 0.83-1.30, Pheterogeneity = .98; dominant model OR = 1.06, 95%CI: 0.92-1.21, Pheterogeneity = .01; recessive model OR = 1.04, 95%CI: 0.83-1.30, Pheterogeneity = .98). Furthermore, no significant association was identified when stratified by ethnicity (Caucasian, Asian).
Conclusion:
This meta-analysis indicated that the TNF-alpha-238G/A polymorphism is not associated with breast cancer risk in the overall population.
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