TNF-α and LT-α polymorphisms and the risk of leukemia: a meta-analysis.

Abstract The aim of this study is to investigate whether TNF-α or LT-α polymorphisms are associated with the risk of leukemia. A meta-analysis was performed to examine the association between the TNF-α -308 G>A and LT-α +252 A>G polymorphisms and the incidence of leukemia. We also performed subgroup analyses based on the classification of leukemias. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to evaluate the association. A total of 19 publications comprising 1,509 cases and 4,075 controls were selected in the study. An association between the risk of leukemia and the LT-α +252 AA genotype was found (GG + AG vs. AA, OR = 0.485, 95% CI 0.368-0.639, p = 0.000). After multivariable analysis TNF-α polymorphism showed no consistent association with leukemia. This meta-analysis suggests that the LT-α +252 AA polymorphism is associated with the risk of leukemia.