miR-196a2 polymorphisms and susceptibility to cancer: A meta-analysis involving 24,697 subjects

An increasing number of studies have shown that the hsa-miR-196a2 rs11614913 polymorphism occurs in different types of cancer, but the results are generally controversial and inadequate, mainly due to limited statistical power. To resolve this issue, the present meta-analysis was carried out. Databases, including PubMed and Embase, were searched using: (miR-196a2[All Fields] OR rs11614913[All Fields]) AND (‘neoplasms’[MeSH Terms] OR ‘neoplasms’[All Fields] OR ‘cancer’[All Fields]). Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were summarized in forest plots and detailed in tables. A total of 20 studies, including 11,004 cases and 13,693 controls, were included in the meta-analysis. The hsa-miR-196a2 rs11614913 polymorphism was significantly associated with an increased cancer risk in all genetic models (CC vs. TT: OR=1.280, 95% CI 1.131–1.449, P<0.001; CT vs. TT: OR=1.187, 95% CI 1.079–1.306, P<0.001; CC/CT vs. TT: OR=1.216, 95% CI 1.104–1.341, P<0.001; and CC vs. CT/TT: OR=1.115, 95% CI 1.025–1.213, P=0.011). In conclusion, this meta-analysis provides compelling evidence that the hsa-miR-196a2 rs11614913 polymorphism plays a crucial role in the development of cancer. Screening of patients for the hsa-miR-196a2 rs11614913 polymorphism can prove clinically useful for the prediction and prevention of cancer.