DNA repair gene XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and glioma risk: a meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND The polymorphism of XRCC3 Thr241Met has been indicated to be correlated with glioma susceptibility, but study results are still debatable. The present meta-analysis was performed to investigate the association between XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and glioma. METHODS A total of 3754 glioma patients and 4849 controls from nine separate studies were involved. The pooled odds ratio (OR) and its corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) was assessed by the random-effects model. RESULTS The association between XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and glioma was significant in the recessive model (OR = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.02 - 1.82; P = 0.03). In a stratified analysis by the ethnicity, significantly increased risk was detected in Asians (OR = 1.93; 95% CI, 1.18 - 3.17; P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS In conclusion, XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism was implied to be associated with increased glioma risk. More studies are needed to validate this result.