Abstract
BACKGROUND: Phospholipase C epsilon 1 (PLCE1) plays crucial roles in carcinogenesis and progression of several cancers. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, rs2274223) in PLCE1 has been identified as a novel susceptibility locus. METHODS: To evaluate the role of the Phospholipase C epsilon 1 (PLCE1) polymorphism in cancer susceptibility. We performed a meta-analysis of all available studies, including 8,689 cases and 10,794 controls to derive a more precise relationship. An odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was applied to assess the association between PLCE1 rs2274223 polymorphism and cancer risk. RESULTS: A total of 14 case-control studies were included in the present meta-analysis. Overall significant associations were observed (AG vs. AA: OR=1.17, 95%CI=1.04-1.31; GG vs. AA: OR=1.32, 95%CI=1.06-1.66; AG/GG vs. AA: OR=1.19, 95%CI=1.05-1.34; G vs. A: OR=1.16, 95%CI=1.04-1.29) in all cancer types. In the subgroup analysis, PLCE1 rs2274223 polymorphism was significantly increased risk of cancer in Chinese population by ethnicity and upper aerodigestive tract cancer by cancer types. CONCLUSIONS: Our meta-analysis suggested the PLCE1 rs2274223 might act as a cancer risk factor among all subjects, especially in the Chinese population and upper aerodigestive tract cancer.