The relationship between tumor necrosis factor-α polymorphisms and gastric cancer risk: An updated meta-analysis

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-α (<i>TNF</i>-α) and the development of gastric cancer, and to investigate whether it can be used as a biological marker for gastric cancer. In the current study, a new meta-analysis was performed to assess the association between <i>TNF</i>-α gene polymorphisms and gastric cancer susceptibility. Subgroup analyses based on ethnicity, control population source and non-cardia cancers were also conducted. Summary odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. <i>TNF-α 308</i> polymorphisms indicated a significant relationship with gastric cancer risk among a normal population [GA/AA vs. GG; 1.17 (1.10-1.23)]. In analysis stratified by ethnicity, <i>TNF-α 238</i> displayed an association with gastric cancer risk in eastern populations [GA/AA vs. GG: 1.24 (1.02-1.50)], but not in western populations [GA/AA vs. GG: 0.96 (0.79-1.18)]. The overall ORs (95% CIs) for TNF-α 857, <i>TNF-α 1031</i> and <i>TNF-α 863</i> were 1.13 (1.04-1.24), 0.94 (0.85-1.05) and 0.89 (0.78-1.02), respectively, under dominant genetic model comparison. Among the above three SNPs, only <i>TNF-α 857</i> was robustly associated with gastric cancer inclination, and this association remained consistently robust when limited to non-cardia gastric cancers [GA/AA vs. GG: 1.16 (1.03-1.31)]. <i>TNF-α 308</i> and <i>TNF-α 857</i> genotypes were potential risk factors of statistical significance in gastric cancer, and <i>TNF-α 238</i> indicated to be significantly associated with gastric cancer risk only in eastern populations. <i>TNF-α 1031</i> and <i>TNF-α 863</i> were not significantly associated with gastric cancer risk.