Brief Article
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World J Gastroenterol. Sep 7, 2010; 16(33): 4210-4220
Published online Sep 7, 2010. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v16.i33.4210
Relationship between genetic polymorphisms of ALDH2 and ADH1B and esophageal cancer risk: A meta-analysis
Shu-Juan Yang, Akira Yokoyama, Tetsuji Yokoyama, Yu-Chuan Huang, Si-Ying Wu, Ying Shao, Jin Niu, Jie Wang, Yu Liu, Xiao-Qiao Zhou, Chun-Xia Yang
Shu-Juan Yang, Ying Shao, Jin Niu, Chun-Xia Yang, Department of Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Akira Yokoyama, Clinical Research Unit, National Hospital Organization Kurihama Alcoholism Center, Yokosuka 239-0841, Japan
Tetsuji Yokoyama, Department of Human Resources Development, National Institute of Public Health, Wako 351-0104, Japan
Yu-Chuan Huang, Technology Research and Development Center, China Tobacco Chuanyu Industrial Corporation, Chengdu 610066, Sichuan Province, China
Si-Ying Wu, Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou 350108, Fujian Province, China
Jie Wang, Department of Periodontology, West China College of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Yu Liu, Xiao-Qiao Zhou, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China
Author contributions: Yang SJ and Yokoyama A contributed equally to this work; Yang SJ contributed to review, search strategy and searching for data, data extraction and analysis and wrote the paper; Yokoyama A and Yang CX were involved in review, data analysis and the paper writing; Yokoyama T did the data analysis and review; Huang YC, Wu SY and Shao Y did the searching for data and data extraction; Liu Y, Niu J, Wang J and Zhou XQ searched the data.
Correspondence to: Chun-Xia Yang, Professor, Department of Epidemiology, West China School of Public Health, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, China. chunxia815@yahoo.com.cn
Telephone: +86-28-85501604 Fax: +86-28-85501295
Received: March 10, 2010
Revised: April 25, 2010
Accepted: May 2, 2010
Published online: September 7, 2010
Abstract

AIM: To evaluate the contribution of alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B) and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) polymorphisms to the risk of esophageal cancer.

METHODS: Nineteen articles were included by searching MEDLINE, EMBASE and the Chinese Biomedical Database, 13 on ADH1B and 18 on ALDH2. We performed a meta-analysis of case-control studies including 13 studies on ADH1B (cases/controls: 2390/7100) and 18 studies on ALDH2 (2631/6030).

RESULTS: The crude odds ratio [OR (95% confidence interval)] was 2.91 (2.04-4.14) for ADH1B*1/*1 (vs ADH1B*2/*2) and 1.32 (1.17-1.49) for ADH1B*1/*2. The crude OR for ALDH2*1/*2 (vs ALDH2*1/*1) was 2.52 (1.76-3.61). ADH1B*1/*1 increased the risk of esophageal cancer among never/rare [1.56 (0.93-2.61)], moderate [2.71 (1.37-5.35)], and heavy drinkers [3.22 (2.27-4.57)]. ADH1B*1/*2 was associated with a modest risk among moderate drinkers [1.43 (1.09-1.87)]. ALDH2*1/*2 increased the risk among never/rare [1.28 (0.91-1.80)], moderate [3.12 (1.95-5.01)], and heavy [7.12 (4.67-10.86)] drinkers, and among ex-drinkers [5.64 (1.57-20.25)]. ALDH2*2/*2 increased the risk among drinkers [4.42 (1.72-11.36)]. ADH1B*1/*1 plus ALDH2*1/*2 was associated with the highest risk for heavy drinkers [12.45 (2.9-53.46)]. The results of the meta-regression analysis showed that the effects of ADH1B*1/*1 and ALDH2*1/*2 increased with the level of alcohol consumption. ALDH2*1/*2 was associated with a high risk among Taiwan Chinese and Japanese drinkers, as opposed to a moderate risk among drinkers in high-incidence regions of Mainland China. ADH1B*1/*1 in heavy drinkers and ALDH2*1/*2 in moderate-to-heavy drinkers was associated with similarly high risk among both men and women.

CONCLUSION: ADH1B/ALDH2 genotypes affect the risk of esophageal cancer, and the risk is modified by alcohol consumption, ethnicity, and gender.

Keywords: Alcohol dehydrogenase-1B; Aldehyde dehydrogenase-2; Esophageal cancer; Meta-analysis