Background: Although several studies have identified an association between the receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) rs1800624 polymorphism and breast cancer, the results have been conflicting. Therefore, we conducted a meta-analysis to assess the relationship between the RAGE rs1800624 polymorphism and breast cancer risk.
Methods: Studies were searched in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Wanfang Med Online, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases until September 20, 2019 to identify all potential literature on this association. Fixed-effect or random-effect models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). Subgroup and sensitivity analyses and tests for publication bias were also performed.
Results: Five eligible studies involving 2823 subjects (1410 patients and 1413 healthy controls) were included in the current meta-analysis. The pooled analysis indicated a positive correlation between the RAGE rs1800624 polymorphism and the risk of breast cancer in a homozygous genetic model (OR = 1.423, 95% CI = 1.043-1.941, P = .026). Ethnicity-based subgroup analysis demonstrated that RAGE rs1800624 polymorphism may increase the risk of breast cancer in the Asian population in homozygous model (OR = 1.661, 95% CI = 1.178-2.342, P = .004).
Conclusion: The RAGE rs1800624 polymorphism may increase the risk of breast cancer in the homozygous genetic model, especially in Asian populations. Large-scale and well-designed studies are needed in different populations to further evaluate the role of the RAGE polymorphism in breast cancer.