Survivin promoter -31G/C (rs9904341) polymorphism and cancer susceptibility: a meta-analysis.

This study aimed to perform a meta-analysis to assess the association of survivin -31 G/C promoter polymorphism and cancer risk. Thirteen case-control studies identified through PubMed and published between 2007 and 2011 with a total of 3329 cancer cases and 3979 controls were included in this meta-analysis. Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) were used to investigate the strength of the association. Overall, the pooled analysis showed that survivin -31C allele was associated with 1.27 fold increased risk of cancer compared with the -31G allele (95% CI = 1.091-1.479; random model). Subgroup analyses based on type of cancer and ethnicity were also performed, and results indicated that survivin -31G/C polymorphism was not associated with risk of gastric cancer [OR = 2.879; 95% CI = 0.553-15.004) for CC vs.GG] and esophageal cancer [OR = 1.352; 95% CI = 0.494-3.699) for CC vs.GG]. Stratification on the basis of ethnicity showed that the risk due to -31C allele was significant only in Asian population [OR = 1.894; 95% CI = 1.206-2.974 for CC vs.GG]. The present meta-analysis suggests an important role of survivin -31 G/C polymorphism with cancer risk especially in Asian population. However, further studies with larger sample size are required to draw more comprehensive conclusions and provide more precise evidence in individual cancers.