Association between NQO1 C609T polymorphism and acute lymphoblastic leukemia risk: evidence from an updated meta-analysis based on 17 case-control studies.

PURPOSE

Quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1) C609T polymorphisms have been implicated in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) risk, but previously published studies were inconsistent and recent meta-analyses were not adequate. The aim of this study was to determine more precise estimations for the relationship between the NQO1 C609T polymorphism and the risk of ALL.

METHODS

Electronic searches for all publications were conducted on association between this variant and ALL in several databases updated in May 2013. The quality of studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of the association. Seventeen studies were identified, including 2,264 ALL patients and 3,798 controls.

RESULTS

Overall, significantly elevated ALL risk was associated with NQO1 C609T variant genotypes when all of the studies were pooled into the meta-analysis (TT vs. CC: OR 1.46, 95 % CI 1.18-1.79; dominant model: OR 1.45, 95 % CI 1.19-1.77). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significantly increased risks were found for non-Asians (T/T vs. C/C: OR 1.74, 95 % CI 1.29-2.36; dominant model: T/T + C/T vs. C/C: OR 1.7, 95 % CI 1.27-2.29). When stratified by adult or children studies, statistically significantly elevated risks were found among adult studies (codominant model: C/T vs. C/C: OR 1.38, 95 % CI 1.02-1.87; dominant model: T/T + C/T vs. C/C: OR 1.52, 95 % CI 1.18-1.97) and children studies (recessive model: T/T vs. C/T + C/C: OR 1.34, 95 % CI 1.05-1.7).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results indicate that the C609T polymorphism of the NQO1 gene is an important genetic risk factor in ALL.