Current evidence on the relationship between four polymorphisms in the matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) gene and breast cancer risk: a meta-analysis

• Published in: Breast cancer research and treatment 2011-06, Vol.127 (3), p.813-818
• Main Authors: Zhou, Ping, Du, Liang-Feng, Lv, Guo-Qiang, Yu, Xian-Ming, Gu, Yuan-Long, Li, Jian-Ping, Zhang, Chun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Cancer; Cancer research; Epidemiology; Female; Genes; Genetic aspects; Genetic Association Studies; Genetic Predisposition to Disease; Genotype; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Health aspects; Humans; Mammary gland diseases; Matrix Metalloproteinases - genetics; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Meta-analysis; Odds Ratio; Oncology; Polymorphism; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; Promoter Regions, Genetic; Risk; Risk factors; Tumors
• ISSN: 0167-6806; 1573-7217
• DOI: 10.1007/s10549-010-1294-0

The matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) can degrade various components of the extracellular matrix and its functional genetic polymorphisms may be associated with breast cancer risk. However, this relationship remains controversial. A meta-analysis was conducted in order to investigate the potential association between four polymorphisms in the MMP gene and breast cancer risk. A database search yielded a total of 9 studies involving 2,597 cases and 2,618 controls. Four polymorphisms were included in the meta-analysis: MMP-1 −1607 2G/1G (rs1799750), MMP-2 −1306 C/T (rs243865), MMP-3 −1171 6A/5A (rs3025058) and MMP-9 −1562 C/T (rs3918242). Crude odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were used to assess the strength of association. When all the studies were pooled into the meta-analysis, we found that breast cancer cases had a significantly higher frequency of CC genotype (OR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.10, 1.47; P  = 0.001) and lower frequency of CT genotype (OR = 0.78, 95% CI = 0.67, 0.91; P  = 0.001) of MMP-2. No significant difference was found in any genotype of MMP-1, MMP-3 or MMP-9. In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggested that MMP-2 −1306 C/T polymorphism may contribute to breast cancer susceptibility. More studies were needed especially in Asians in the future.