Impact of XPF rs2276466 polymorphism on cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis

Association between the xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group F (XPF)rs2276466 located in the excision repair cross complementation group 4 (ERCC4) gene and cancer susceptibility has been widely investigated. However, results thus far have remained controversial. A meta-analysis was performed to identify the impact of this polymorphism on cancer susceptibility. PubMed, Embase and Science-Web databases were searched systematically up to May 20, 2018, to obtain all the records evaluating the association between the rs2276466 polymorphism and the risk of all types of cancers. We used the odds ratio (OR) as a measure of effect, and pooled the data in a Mantel-Haenszel weighed random-effects meta-analysis to provide a summary estimate of the impact of this polymorphism on gastrointestinal cancer, neurogenic cancer and other cancers (breast cancer and SCCHN). All the analyses were carried out in STATA 14.1.11 case-control studies that consisted of 5730 cases and 6756 controls, were eventually included in our meta-analysis. The significant association was observed between the XPFrs2276466 polymorphism and neurogenic cancer susceptibility (recessive model: OR = 1.648, 95% CI = 1.294-2.098, P<0.001). Furthermore, no significant impact of this polymorphism was detected on decreased gastrointestinal cancer risk (dominant model: OR = 1.064, 95%CI = 0.961-1.177, P = 0.233). The rs2276466 polymorphism might play different roles in carcinogenesis of various cancer types. Current evidence did not suggest that this polymorphism was directly associated with gastrointestinal susceptibility. However, this polymorphism might contribute to increased neurogenic cancer risk. More preclinical and epidemiological studies are still imperative for further evaluation.