Role of MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism in the etiology of prostate cancer: A systematic review and updated meta-analysis

Abstract

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) is an important enzyme of folate/homocysteine pathway and is essential for synthesis, repair and methylation of DNA. Various studies have performed to evaluate the role of MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism to the risk of prostate cancer and the results were inconclusive and inconsistent. A meta-analysis of published case-control studies, up to December 2014, was performed to investigate the association between MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism and the susceptibility of prostate cancer. PubMed, Science direct, Springer link and Google scholar databases were searched for case-control studies and crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to estimate the strength of association. The analyses were conducted with Open Meta-Analyst and MIX softwares. Total thirteen case-control studies with 4673 prostate cancer patients and 6982 controls were included in this meta-analysis. No associations were observed between MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism and prostate cancer in any genetic model (allele contrast (C vs. A): OR = 1.01; 95% CI: 0.91–1.13; p= 0.73; dominant model (CC + AC vs. AA): OR= 0.98, 95% CI= 0.91–1.06, p= 0.73; homozygote model (CC vs. AA): OR = 0.96, 95% CI= 0.83–1.10, p= 0.55; co-dominant model (AC vs. AA): OR= 0.98, 95% CI= 0.91–1.07, p= 0.76; and recessive model (CC vs. AC + AA): OR =0.96, 95% CI= 0.84–1.10, p= 0.61). Moreover, when the data were stratified on the basis of ethnicity no significant associations were observed. The results of the present meta-analysis suggest that the MTHFR A1298C gene polymorphism has no effect on the etiology of prostate cancer

Keywords: MTHFR; A1298C; Polymorphism; Prostate cancer; Meta-analysis