Previous studies have investigated the associations of TIM-3 polymorphisms (-1516G/T, -574G/T, and +4259T/G) with cancer risk in Chinese Han population, but the results remain conflicting. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation of the associations. The pooled data showed that TIM-3 polymorphisms (-1516G/T, -574G/T, and +4259T/G) were significantly associated with an increased risk of overall cancer in Chinese Han population. Subgroup analyses based on cancer system showed that TIM-3 -1516G/T polymorphism was only associated with an increased risk of digestive system cancer in Chinese Han population. TIM-3 -574G/T polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of digestive system cancer and other cancer in Chinese Han population. TIM-3 +4259T/G polymorphism was only associated with an increased risk of other cancer in Chinese Han population. In summary, our results indicated that TIM-3 polymorphisms (-1516G/T, -574G/T, and +4259T/G) were associated with the increased risk of cancer in Chinese Han population.
Keywords: TIM-3; cancer; polymorphism.