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Meta-Analysis
. 2016 Oct 24:6:35859.
doi: 10.1038/srep35859.

Altered mitochondrial DNA copy number contributes to human cancer risk: evidence from an updated meta-analysis

Liwen Hu  1 , Xinyue Yao  2 , Yi Shen  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Altered mitochondrial DNA copy number contributes to human cancer risk: evidence from an updated meta-analysis

Liwen Hu et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

Accumulating epidemiological evidence indicates that the quantitative changes in human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) copy number could affect the genetic susceptibility of malignancies in a tumor-specific manner, but the results are still elusive. To provide a more precise estimation on the association between mtDNA copy number and risk of diverse malignancies, a meta-analysis was conducted by calculating the pooled odds ratios (OR) and the 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). A total of 36 case-control studies involving 11,847 cases and 15,438 controls were finally included in the meta-analysis. Overall analysis of all studies suggested no significant association between mtDNA content and cancer risk (OR = 1.044, 95% CI = 0.866-1.260, P = 0.651). Subgroup analyses by cancer types showed an obvious positive association between mtDNA content and lymphoma and breast cancer (OR = 1.645, 95% CI = 1.117-2.421, P = 0.012; OR = 1.721, 95% CI = 1.130-2.622, P = 0.011, respectively), and a negative association for hepatic carcinoma. Stratified analyses by other confounding factors also found increased cancer risk in people with drinking addiction. Further analysis using studies of quartiles found that populations with the highest mtDNA content may be under more obvious risk of melanoma and that Western populations were more susceptible than Asians.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Forest plot of the ORs for the overall cancer risk in dichotomizing analysis.
The squares and horizontal lines correspond to the study-specific OR and 95% CI.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Cumulative analysis of the overall ORs.
The results were sorted by publication years.
Figure 3
Figure 3. Sensitivity analysis of the summary ORs on the association between mtDNA content and overall cancer risk.
The results were calculated by omitting each eligible study. Meta-analysis random-effects estimates were used.
Figure 4
Figure 4. Begg’s funnel plot for publication bias analysis.
Each point represents a separate study for the indicated association. Log[or], natural logarithm of the odds ratio. Horizontal line indicates effect size.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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