Linking p53 rs1042522 Variant to Thyroid Cancer Risk: Insights from a Comprehensive Meta-Analysis of 2116 Cases.

This meta-analysis investigates the association between the p53 rs1042522 polymorphism and thyroid cancer, analyzing 18 case-control studies with 2,116 cases and 4,017 controls. It finds that the C allele is linked to a higher cancer risk (OR 1.572, 95% CI: 1.062-2.326, p = 0.024) but shows significant heterogeneity (I2 = 94.15%). Subgroup analyses indicate protective effects in Caucasian, Asian, and mixed populations (ORs around 0.008 to 0.011). Notably, Follicular and Differentiated Thyroid Carcinomas show strong protective associations, suggesting that while the C allele may increase risk, certain populations may experience reduced risk, emphasizing genetic complexity.