Association between ALDH2 Glu487Lys polymorphism and the risk of esophageal cancer

OBJECTIVE: A meta-analysis was carried out to further evaluate the relationship between ALDH2 Glu487Lys polymorphism and esophageal cancer risk. METHODS: A total number of 15 studies that included 3812 cases and 7376 controls were identified for our meta-analysis. RESULTS: Our findings indicated that individuals with the combination of Glu/Lys and Lys/Lys genotype had an increased risk of getting esophageal cancer (GA + AA vs. GG: odds ratio [OR] 1.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.93-2.00, P = 0.113) with a shift pattern. Although Lys/Lys genotype carriers showed areduced esophageal cancer risk (AA vs. GA + GG: OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.23-0.72, P = 0.002). Similarly, a negative association was observed under homozygote comparison (AA vs. GG: OR 0.49, 95% CI 0.29-0.85, P = 0.011). In the China subgroup analysis, the similar results were found. CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis concluded that there was a strong association between ALDH2 Glu487Lys polymorphism and the risk of esophageal cancer. It further confirmed that ALDH2 Glu487Lys polymorphism was a high-risk factor for esophageal cancer.