Association of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha gene polymorphism with renal cell carcinoma susceptibility

Association between hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) gene polymorphism and renal cell carcinoma (RCC) susceptibility is still being conflicting. This meta-analysis was performed to assess the relationship between HIF-1α C1772T (rs11549465)/G1790A (rs11549467) gene polymorphism and RCC risk.

Association studies were identified from the databases of PubMed and CBM-disc (China Biological Medicine Database) as of July 1, 2015, and eligible investigations were included and synthesized using meta-analysis method.

Five investigations were identified, and the meta-analysis was conducted to assess the association between HIF-1α gene polymorphism and RCC risk. There was a marked association between HIF-1α C1772T TT genotype and RCC susceptibility, and the association between HIF-1α C1772T T allele/CC genotype and RCC risk was not found in overall populations (T: odds ratios [OR] =1.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.70-1.54, P = 0.84; TT: OR = 0.13, 95% CI: 1.60-2.34, P = 0.01; CC: OR = 1.18, 95% CI: 0.68-2.07, P = 0.55). Furthermore, a marked association between HIF-1α G1790A AA genotype and RCC susceptibility was found, and the association between HIF-1α G1790A A allele/GG genotype and RCC risk was not found in overall populations (A: OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 0.60-3.92, P = 0.38; AA: OR = 3.09, 95% CI: 1.38-6.92, P = 0.006; GG: OR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.20-2.03, P = 0.44).

HIF-1α C1772T TT genotype and HIF-1α G1790A AA genotype were associated with RCC susceptibility. However, more investigations are required to further clarify the association.