Telomerase reverse transcriptase rs2736098 polymorphism is associated with lung cancer: A meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Genetics
• Oncology
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide.
• Genetic predispositions play a significant role in cancer development.
• The telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) gene is implicated in cellular immortalization and cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between the TERT rs2736098 polymorphism and lung cancer incidence.
• To synthesize existing evidence through a comprehensive meta-analysis.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search of PubMed, Embase, and CNKI databases.
• Inclusion of seven studies with 3836 controls and 3637 lung cancer patients.
• Statistical analysis using odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) to assess risk.

Main Results:

• A significant association was found between TERT rs2736098 polymorphism and lung cancer incidence across multiple genetic models (e.g., AA vs. GG: OR=1.83, 95% CI=1.58-2.12).
• The polymorphism demonstrated a correlation with lung cancer susceptibility, consistent across studies stratified by sample size and Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
• This genetic variant appears to increase the odds of developing lung cancer.

Conclusions:

• The TERT rs2736098 polymorphism is identified as a potential risk factor for lung cancer development.
• These findings contribute to understanding the genetic underpinnings of lung cancer.
• Further research may explore targeted genetic screening for TERT rs2736098 in high-risk individuals.