EPHX1 Tyr113His polymorphism contributes to hepatocellular carcinoma risk: Evidence from a meta-analysis

To clarify the association between the microsomal epoxide hydrolase gene ( EPHX1 ) Tyr113His polymorphism and the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risk, a meta-analysis was performed. Through a literature search, 119 relevant records were identified, and 17 individual case-control studies from 13 publications were finally included, involving a total of 1480 HCC cases and 2564 controls. Overall, the EPHX1 Tyr113His polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of HCC. Subgroup analyses by the status of the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (HWE) in controls further confirmed this association. In subgroup analyses, increased associations were found in Asians, Caucasians, hepatitis B virus (HBV)-dominant areas, hepatitis C virus (HCV)-dominant areas, high and medium-rate areas of HCC, but not in Africans and low-rate areas of HCC, respectively. This meta-analysis suggests that EPHX1 Tyr113His polymorphism contributes to the HCC risk.