CHRNA5 rs16969968 polymorphism is associated with lung cancer risk: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the genetic association between rs16969968 and lung cancer risk by meta-analysis.

Data source: We searched eligible studies from MEDLINE, Web of Science and EMBASE up to Dec, 2017.

Study selection: Association studies concerning rs16969968 and lung cancer risk were included. We assessed the association strength between this polymorphism and risk of lung cancer by calculating odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95%CI).

Results: A total of 26 data sets comprising 30 772 lung cancers and 90 954 controls were included. rs16969968 was found to be associated with lung cancer risk in population of European ancestry in all models (A vs. G: OR = 1.30, 95%CI 1.27-1.33, P < 0.001; AA + GA vs. GG: OR = 1.38, 95%CI 1.33-1.43, P < 0.001; AA vs. GG + GA: OR = 1.45, 95%CI 1.38-1.53, P < 0.001), consistent with previous genome-wide association study (GWAS). However, no association was observed in Asians (A vs. G: OR = 1.19. 95%CI 0.95-1.49, P = 0.131). The minor allele A may increase the risk of lung cancer in both smokers (OR = 1.33, 95%CI 1.29-1.39, P < 0.001) and nonsmokers (OR = 1.25, 95%CI 1.12-1.39, P < 0.001). There was no obvious publication bias in all analyses.

Conclusions: Our analysis provided more evidence that rs16969968 is a susceptibility locus of lung cancer in the Caucasians and that it may be not associated with the risk in the Asians.

Keywords: CHRNA5; lung cancer; meta-analysis; rs16969968.