Association between Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase C677T Polymorphism and Susceptibility to Cervical Cancer: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND To assess the association between MTHFR polymorphism and cervical cancer risk, a meta-analysis was performed. METHODS Based on comprehensive searches of the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases, we identified outcome data from all articles estimating the association between MTHFR polymorphism and cervical cancer risk. The pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS A total of 12 studies with 2,924 cases (331 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) I, 742 CIN II/III, 1851 invasive cervical cancer) and 2,581 controls were identified. There was no significant association between MTHFR C677T polymorphism and CIN I risk (T vs. C, OR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.92-1.31; TT vs. CC, OR = 1.14, 95% CI = 0.78-1.68; TT+CT vs. CC, OR = 1.22, 95% CI = 0.94-1.58; TT vs. CT+CC, OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.70-1.40). For the CIN II/III, lack of an association was also found (T vs. C, OR = 1.08, 95% CI = 0.95-1.23; TT vs. CC, OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 0.87-1.52; TT+CT vs. CC, OR = 1.13, 95% CI = 0.94-1.35; TT vs. CT+CC, OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.83-1.38). The T allele had significant association to susceptibility of invasive cervical cancer in recessive model (TT vs. CT+CC, OR = 1.23, 95% CI = 1.02-1.49). On subgroup analysis by ethnicity, similarly significant differences in T vs. C, TT vs. CC, and recessive model were found in Asians. CONCLUSION The present meta-analysis suggested that MTHFR C677T polymorphism were to substantially contribute to invasive cervical cancer in recessive model.