TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and skin cancer risk: a meta-analysis.

The TP53 gene has an important role in the protection of cells from DNA damage due to UV exposure, and sequence variation in the gene may alter skin cancer susceptibility. To examine the association between the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism and skin cancer risk, we undertook a meta-analysis of 15 case-control studies involving 6,362 subjects. The quality of the studies was assessed according to a predefined scale. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were assessed for association using a random-effects model. Overall, no evidence of association was observed between TP53 genotypes and the risk of skin cancer in any genetic model (Arg/Arg vs. Pro/Pro: OR=1.05, 95% CI: 0.71-1.55; Arg/Pro vs. Pro/Pro: OR=0.92, 95% CI: 0.68-1.24; Arg/Arg+Arg/Pro vs. Pro/Pro: OR=0.97, 95% CI: 0.70-1.35; Arg/Arg vs. Arg/Pro+Pro/Pro: OR=1.15, 95% CI: 0.91-1.46). Stratified analyses according to ethnicity and quality score of the studies also detected no significant association in any subgroup. Furthermore, no effect of this polymorphism on subtype of skin cancer, such as melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma, was observed. In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that the TP53 Arg72Pro polymorphism may have little involvement in skin cancer susceptibility.