MiR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism and head and neck carcinoma risk: a meta-analysis based on 10 case-control studies

// Zhaolan Xiang 1 , Jue Song 2 , Xianlu Zhuo 1 , Qi Li 1 , Xueyuan Zhang 1 1 Department of Otolaryngology, Southwest Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China 2 Affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China Correspondence to: Xianlu Zhuo, email: zhuoxianlu@gmc.edu.cn Xueyuan Zhang, email: sydzxy@aliyun.com Keywords: miR-146a, head & neck cancer, susceptibility, meta-analysis, polymorphism Received: September 16, 2016     Accepted: November 08, 2016     Published: November 25, 2016 ABSTRACT Two recent meta-analyses have been conducted on the relationship between miR-146a polymorphism (rs2910164) and head and neck cancer (HNC) risk. However, they have yielded conflicting results. Hence, the aim of the present study was to conduct a quantitative updated meta-analysis addressing this subject. Eligible studies up to Sep 2016 were retrieved and screened from the bio-databases and then essential data were extracted for data analysis. Next, subgroup analyses on ethnicity, source of controls, sample size, and genotyping method were also carried out. As a result, a total of 9 publications involving 10 independent case-control studies were included. The overall data indicated a significant association between miR-146a rs2910164 polymorphism and HNC risk [C vs. G: odds ratio (OR) = 1.14; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.00–1.31; CC+CG vs. GG: OR=1.21; 95%CI=1.02-1.43]. Variant alleles of miR-146a rs2910164 may have a correlation with increased HNC risk. Future well-designed studies containing large sample sizes are needed to verify this result.