Abstract

We aimed to evaluate the association of Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T polymorphism with ESCC. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Chinese Biomedical Database. All the articles searched were independently reviewed and selected by 2 evaluators according to the predetermined criteria. A total of 10 case-control studies published between 2001 and 2011 were included. When all the studies were pooled, the crude odds ratio (95% CI) of ESCC forindividuals carrying MTHFR 677 CT and TT genotype were 1.70 (1.32 to 2.20) and 2.10 (1.58 to 2.79), respectively. An Egger’s test provided that the effect estimates were not related to study size (p values for MTHFR 677 CT and TT were 0.16 and 0.17, respectively). The meta-analysis provides evidence that MTHFR 677CT/TTplays a carcinogenic role in ESCC, and its effect is modified by alcohol, tobacco and ethnicity.

Key words: Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase C677T, polymorphism, esophageal cancer, meta-analysis.