XRCC3 C18067T Polymorphism Contributes a Decreased Risk to Both Basal Cell Carcinoma and Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Evidence from a Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND The X-ray repair cross-complementing group 3 (XRCC3) in homologous recombination repair (HRR) pathway plays a very important role in DNA double-strand break repair (DSBR). Variations in the XRCC3 gene might lead to altered protein structure or function which may change DSBR efficiency and result in cancer. The XRCC3 C18067T polymorphism has been reported to be associated with skin cancer susceptibility, yet the results of these previous results have been inconsistent or controversial. To derive a more precise estimation of the association, we conducted a meta-analysis. METHODS The quality of the studies was assessed according to a predefined scale. The association between the XRCC3 C18067T polymorphism and skin cancer risk was assessed by odds ratios (ORs) together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS Overall, no significant association was observed between XRCC3 C18067T polymorphism and skin cancer risk in any genetic model. Stratified analyses according to tumor type, significant association was found in the relationship between XRCC3 C18067T polymorphism and nonmelanoma skin cancer risk (homozygote comparison TT versus CC: OR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.61-0.90, P = 0.003; recessive model TT versus TC/CC OR = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.68-0.95, P = 0.01). Furthermore, significant association was also observed in XRCC3 C18067T polymorphism with both basal cell carcinoma risk (homozygote comparison TT versus CC: OR = 0.70, 95%CI = 0.53-0.92, P = 0.011; recessive model TT versus. TC/CC OR = 0.74, 95%CI = 0.60-0.92, P = 0.007) and squamous cell carcinoma risk (heterozygote comparison TT versus .CC: OR = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.67-0.99, P = 0.04; dominant model TT/TC versus .CC: OR = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.68-0.98, P = 0.029). CONCLUSION The present meta-analysis demonstrates that XRCC3 C18067T polymorphism was not associated with risk of cutaneous melanoma but contributed a decreased risk to both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.