Association between p73 RS2273953 to RS1801173 polymorphism and risk of lung cancer: a meta-analysis of 2,897 cases and 3,317 controls

Background: Lung cancer is one of the most common and deadly cancers in humans. P73, a member of the p53 family, is a vital gene for the carcinogenesis of lung cancer. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of P73 gene may affect the risk of lung cancer. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of p73 SNP and lung cancer risk using the most recent data. Methods: A total of 1407 articles from EMBASE, Web of science, PubMed and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases were identified initially from the search. A meta-analysis of the association between P73 polymorphism and lung cancer risk was performed based on various genetic models and by type of lung cancer and race. Results: Seven articles published in either English or Chinese with English abstract were eventually selected for final analysis. The total pooled population included 6214 subjects (2,897 cases and 3,317 controls). The results showed that p73 RS2273953 to RS1801173 polymorphism was associated with increased risk of lung cancer in Caucasians but not in Asians. Within Asians, those with p73 GC/GC may have an increased risk for squamous carcinoma compared to those with GC/AT+AT/AT polymorphism. Conclusions: Our analysis suggested a lack of association between p73 RS2273953 to RS1801173 polymorphism and risk of lung cancer overall. However, patients with GC/GC polymorphism showed an increased risk for squamous carcinoma in the lung compared to those with GC/AT+AT/AT in Asians.