Objective: To investigate the association of genetic polymorphisms of alcohol dehydrogenase-1B (ADH1B) and aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH-2) with risk of esophageal cancer (EC) in China.
Methods: A comprehensive search of the database was performed to identify all case-control studies of ADH1B and ALDH-2 polymorphisms associated with esophageal cancer and their interactions with alcohol drinking. Meta-analysis was carried out for calculation of pooled OR value and its corresponding 95% CI.
Results: The ADH1B * 1 and ALDH-2 * 2 allele were found to be associated to increased risk of EC, with odds ratios (OR) being 1. 24 (95% CI 1.10-1.41) and 3.05 (95% CI 1.94-4.77) for the ADH1B * 1/* 2 and ADH1B * 1/*1, and 1.6 (95% CI 1.01-2.03) and 0.77 (95% CI 0.28-2.09) for the ALDH-2 * 1/* 2 and ALDH-2 * 2/* 2 respectively. When compared with the ADH1B * 2/* 2 genotype in drinkers, the ADH1B * 1/* 2 + * 2/* 2 can increase risk of EC (OR = 3.13, 95% CI 2.17-4.51). ALDH-2 * 1/* 2 + * 2/* 2 showed an increased risk to EC among drinks compared with the ALDH-2 * 1/* 1 genotype (OR = 4.12, 95% CI 1.98-8.56).
Conclusion: ADH1B * 1 and ALDH-2 * 2 allele can increase the risk of EC in china, which can be modified by alcohol consumption.