Association of X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 Arg194Trp, Arg399Gln and Arg280His polymorphisms with head and neck cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 30;9(1):e86798. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0086798. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Background: Previous studies on the association of X-ray repair cross-complementing group 1 (XRCC1) Arg194Trp, Arg399Gln, and Arg280His polymorphisms with head and neck cancer (HNC) have produced inconsistent results. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of these three polymorphic variants on HNC risk.

Methods: The PubMed and EMBASE databases were searched for genetic association studies on the XRCC1 Arg194Trp, Arg399Gln, and Arg280His polymorphisms and HNC risk. (The most recent search was conducted on 20 August, 2013.) Twenty-six studies were identified and meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association between the polymorphism and HNC by calculating combined odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results: No significant association was found under the allelic, homozygous, heterozygote, and dominant genetic models in the overall comparison. Further, no significant association between the XRCC1 Arg399Gln and Arg280His polymorphisms and HNC risk was detected under the four genetic models in subgroup analyses based on ethnicity, cancer site, and whether or not the studies had been adjusted for cigarette smoking and alcohol. However, in stratified analyses based on cancer site, a significant association was found between the XRCC1 Arg194Trp polymorphism and oral cancer under the allelic, heterozygote, and dominant models. The XRCC1 Arg194Trp polymorphism was significantly associated with HNC risk in studies that were adjusted for smoking and alcohol under the homozygous and heterozygote models.

Conclusion: The meta-analysis results suggest that the XRCC1 Arg399Gln and Arg280His polymorphisms are probably not associated with the risk of HNC, but the XRCC1 Arg194Trp polymorphism was associated with increased risk of HNC in the subgroup analysis of studies adjusted for smoking and alcohol and with increased risk of oral cancer in the stratified analyses based on cancer site. Further studies with larger samples are needed to confirm these findings.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Substitution
  • Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • Genetic Association Studies
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease
  • Head and Neck Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide*
  • Risk
  • X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • X-ray Repair Cross Complementing Protein 1
  • XRCC1 protein, human

Grants and funding

This study was supported by grant no. 81272293 from National Natural Science Foundation of China, grant no. 81102194 from National Natural Science Foundation of China. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.