HLA-DRB1 allele polymorphism and nasopharyngeal carcinoma risk: a meta-analysis

The human leukocyte antigens (HLA) DRB1 polymorphism has been implicated in susceptibility to nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). However, the results are inconsistent. The aim of this meta-analysis is to evaluate the association between the HLA-DRB1 polymorphisms and NPC risk. All eligible case–control studies published up to June 17, 2015 were identified by searching PubMed, Web of Science, CNKI, Wanfang, and Weipu databases. The NPC risk associated with the HLA-DRB1 polymorphism was estimated for each study by odds ratios (OR) together with its 95 % confidence interval (CI), respectively. Twelve studies with 1152 cases and 1600 controls were included. Overall, a significant positively association between the HLA-DRB1*03, *08, *09, and *10 alleles polymorphism and NPC risk were found (OR = 1.55, 95 % CI 1.30–1.86; OR = 1.44, 95 % CI 1.08–1.92; OR = 1.33, 95 % CI 1.06–1.67; OR = 1.82, 95 % CI 1.02–3.26, respectively), and the HLA-DRB1*01, *11, and *12 alleles were negatively associated with NPC risk (OR = 0.55, 95 % CI 0.39–0.78; OR = 0.62, 95 % CI 0.42–0.91; OR = 0.62, 95 % CI 0.47–0.81, respectively), but we failed to detect any association between other alleles and NPC risk. When stratified by ethnicity, similar results were observed among Asians for HLA-DRB1*03, *08, *09, *11, and *12 alleles and Tunisians for HLA-DRB1*01, *03, and *11 alleles; However, no significant association among Caucasians was observed. This meta-analysis suggests that the HLA-DRB1*03, *08, *09, and *10 alleles polymorphism contributed to the susceptibility of NPC, whereas HLA-DRB1*11 and *12 alleles polymorphism may be an important protective factor for NPC, especially of Asian populations.