Association between fat mass and obesity-associated gene polymorphisms and susceptibility of breast cancer: a meta-analysis

Objective To analyze the potential association between single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in fat mass and obesity-associated gene (FTO) and breast cancer using meta-analysis. Methods Overall retrievals of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Wanfang, China National Knowledge and SinoMed were performed and a total of 11 case-control studies were included. The pooled odds ratios were conducted respectively for allele comparison, additive genetic model, dominant genetic model and recessive genetic model, subgroup analysis of different races was also performed. The relationship of FTO gene SNPs (rs9939609, rs1477196, rs1121980) and breast cancer was comprehensively evaluated by meta-analysis. Results Six case-control studies covering 2994 cases and 3699 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled analysis showed that rs1477196 polymorphism in dominant genetic model increased the susceptibility of breast cancer (OR=1.241, 95%CI 1.035-1.488, P=0.019). rs9939609 and rs1121980 were not related to breast cancer (OR=1.062, 95%CI为0.934-1.208, P=0.36). Subgroup analysis of different races indicated that significant risks for rs1477196 G allele were found in the Asian population (OR=1.305, 95%CI 1.085-1.569, P=0.005), but not in the Caucasia population (OR=1.136, 95%CI 0.641-2.014, P=0.662) and mixed population (OR=1.131, 95%CI 0.809-1.583, P=0.472). Conclusions FTO polymorphisms may play an important role in the susceptibility of breast cancer in an ethnicity specific manner. In the Asian population, the risk of breast cancer was positively associated with the rs1477196 G allele. Key words: Breast cancer; Fat mass and obesity-associated gene; single nucleotide polymorphism; Meta-analysis