High-mobility group box 1 protein (HMGB1) gene polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility: A comprehensive meta-analysis

The role of HMGB1 polymorphisms in cancer predisposition remains unclear. This meta-analysis was performed assess four HMGB1 polymorphisms (rs1045411, rs2249825, rs1360485 and rs1412125) in cancer risk. We searched published studies till January 2018 from EMBASE, PubMed, Google scholar, and Cochrane library. Thereafter, the statistical software “R” was used to calculate Pooled Odds Ratios (OR), and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for assessment of association between different HMGB1 polymorphisms and cancer risk. In this meta-analysis we used eight studies totaling 7017 subjects. HMGB1 rs1045411 polymorphism in recessive model (OR 1.4159, 95% CI 0.9197–2.1798, P = 0.1142) and homozygous model (OR 1.4157, 95% CI 0.8711–2.3006, P = 0.1606) emerged as a risk factor for cancer development. Dominant model in rs2249825 polymorphism (OR: 0.8954) and rs1412125 polymorphism (OR: 0.9029) emerged as protective factors. Statistical significance was not achieved for any genetic model. Begg's test and Egger's test for all analysis suggested no publication bias. This is the first meta-analysis exploring the association of four HMGB1 polymorphisms with cancer. Although polymorphism rs1045411 emerged as a risk candidate, additional studies are suggested to confirm these findings. •This the first meta-analysis for association of HMGB1 polymorphisms with cancer.•rs1045411 polymorphism emerged as risk factor for cancer.•rs2249825 and rs1412125 polymorphisms emerged as protective factors in dominant model.