The first combined meta‐analytic approach for elucidating the relationship of circulating resistin levels and RETN gene polymorphisms with colorectal and breast cancer

Abstract

Abstract Background Evidence suggests that circulating resistin levels are altered in colorectal cancer (CRC) and breast cancer (BC). Again, polymorphisms in resistin-encoding gene RETN have been evaluated in CRC and BC. However, there is a scarcity of data establishing the relationship of resistin and RETN polymorphisms (rs1862513 and rs3745367) with these cancers. This study aimed to analyze the relationship of resistin levels and RETN polymorphisms with CRC and BC in a combined meta-analytic approach. Main body of the abstract After a comprehensive online literature search, screening and eligibility check, 41 articles (31 with resistin level and 10 with RETN polymorphisms) were retrieved for meta-analyses. The mean difference (MD) of resistin was calculated and pooled to investigate the effect sizes with a 95% confidence interval (CI), and the connection of genetic polymorphisms was analyzed with an odds ratio (OR) and 95% CI. The analysis showed that resistin level is significantly higher in CRC (MD = 3.39) and BC (MD = 3.91) patients. Subgroup analysis in CRC showed significantly higher resistin in serum (MD = 4.61) and plasma (MD = 0.34), and in BC, a significantly elevated resistin level was reported in premenopausal (MD = 7.82) and postmenopausal (MD = 0.37) patients. Again, RETN rs1862513 showed a significantly strong association with CRC (codominant 1—OR 1.24, codominant 2—OR 1.31, dominant model—OR 1.25, and allele model—OR 1.16) and with BC (codominant 2—OR 1.51, codominant 3—OR 1.51, recessive model—OR 1.51, and allele model—OR 1.21). RETN rs3745367 did not show any association with these cancers. Short conclusion Overall, our analysis indicates that higher circulating resistin levels are associated with an elevated risk of CRC and premenopausal and postmenopausal BC. Besides, rs1862513 in RETN gene is significantly connected with both CRC and BC.