Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) was first defined as an antiviral agent with potent antitumor effects in 1957 and this is supported by much subsequent research. IFN-γ rs2430561 polymorphism was found to increase IFN-γ production involved in the regulation of immune system. Previous studies of rs2430561 genotypes and hepa-tocellular carcinoma (HCC) susceptibility have produced inconsistent results. We thus summarized all epidemiologic and molecular data and carried out a meta-analysis to evaluate the

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... fects of this functional polymorphism on HCC incidence. Methods: Human hospital-or population-based studies were identified by searching multiple databases (BIOSIS, Embase, PubMed, Web of Science, Chinese Biomedical Literature database). Six studies were selected for the meta-analysis. Crude ORs was calculated assuming the allele, homozygote, heterozygote, dominant and reces-sive model. The stability and reliability of the combined results were examined by using sensitivity analysis and publication bias tests. Results: Meta-analysis under the allele model showed that the T allele compared with the A allele showed a moderately but nonsignificantly increased risk of HCC (OR = 1.12, 95% CI = 0.92-1.35). Analyses under the remaining models revealed no evidence of a significant association. In subgroup analysis by infection type, summary ORs suggested no significantly elevated risk of HBV-infected HCC in relation to the allele or genotypes of rs2430561 polymorphism. The combined results were reliable according to sensitivity analysis and publication bias tests. Conclusion: We found no strong evidence supporting a statistically significant association between IFN-γ rs2430561 polymorphism and HCC susceptibility.