Genetic polymorphisms in Matrix Metalloproteinases -1 and -7 and susceptibility to gastric cancer: an association study and meta-analysis.

Matrix Metalloproteinases (MMPs) play an important role in gastric cancer (GC). Accumulated evidence suggests that functional MMP-1 and MMP-7 gene polymorphisms are associated with several tumors. The aim of this study was to investigate two single nucleotide polymorphisms, MMP-1 -1607 1G/2G and MMP-7 -181 A/G, and their potential relationship with GC. We examined 246 GC  patients and 252 age-and sex-matched controls  from  Sichuan province in China. Genotypes were determined using a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism strategy and DNA sequencing. We also performed a meta- analysis of relevant studies, involving 1084 cases and 1721 controls, to place our findings in a broader context. No significant relationship was observed between the MMP-1 -1607 1G/2G alleles and genotypes and the risk of GC. There were significant differences in the genotypes and allele distributions  of  the  -181 A/G  polymorphism  of  the  MMP-7 gene between  cases and controls. The -181 A allele carriers had a significantly increased risk of GC compared with 181 G allele carriers (OR=3.051, 95% CI, 1.475-6.310, P=0.002), and the AA genotype of 181 A/G  was associated with an increased risk of GC compared with the AG genotype (OR=3.189, 95% CI, 1.523-6.676, P=0.001). A meta-analysis of six studies also showed a significant risk of GC associated with MMP-7 polymorphism.