Quantitative assessment of the association between XRCC1 Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp polymorphisms and risk of cutaneous melanoma.

Accumulating evidence has suggested that the XRCC1 Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp polymorphisms might be related to cutaneous melanoma susceptibility. However, epidemiologic findings have been inconsistent. We have assessed reported studies by meta-analysis to perform a more precise estimation of the association between the XRCC1 two polymorphisms (Arg399Gln, Arg194Trp) and risk of cutaneous melanoma. A total of seven eligible articles were selected for this meta-analysis, including 3454 cases and 3811 controls for the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism and 1256 cases and 1575 controls for the XRCC1 Arg194Trp polymorphism. Overall, no significant associations were found in all genetic models when the studies were pooled into the meta-analysis for the Arg399Gln and Arg194Trp polymorphisms. When stratified by source of control, significant associations were found for the Arg399Gln polymorphism in the population-based subgroup under AA versus GG [odds ratio (OR)=1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.08-1.88]; the dominant model AA/GA versus GG (OR=1.25, 95% CI=1.04-1.51); and the recessive model AA versus GA/GG (OR=1.31, 95% CI=1.01-1.68). No significant associations were found for the Arg194Trp polymorphism in the subgroup analysis. This meta-analysis suggested that the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism was a risk factor for cutaneous melanoma in population-based subgroup.