TAS2R38 Bitterness Receptor Genetic Variation and Risk of Gastrointestinal Neoplasm: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Genetic variation in TAS2R38 bitterness taste receptor could alter the efficacy of molecular sensing, hence may be associated with cancer risk. Thus, we performed a meta-analysis to verify the association between the risk of gastrointestinal (GI) neoplasm and TAS2R38 genetic variation. Studies with TAS2R38 diplotype distribution and GI neoplasm phenotypes were searched from PubMed, EMBASE and SCOPUS, and five articles including eight studies were finally selected. The association between diplotype and neoplasm risk was estimated with summarized odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), applying of fixed- or random-effects models. The findings suggested TAS2R38 diplotype was not associated with GI neoplasms susceptibility [AVI vs. PAV: OR = 1.03 (95%CI: 0.97–1.09), AVI/PAV vs. PAV/PAV: OR = 1.05, (95%CI: 0.94–1.17), AVI/* vs. PAV/PAV: OR = 1.04 (95%CI: 0.94–1.16)]. Because of the presence of heterogeneity under the two genetic models (AVI/AVI vs. PAV/PAV and AVI/AVI vs. PAV/*), further subgroup analyses by ethnicity and neoplasm type were performed. However, results failed to show the neoplasm risk was altered by diplotype. In conclusion, the meta-analysis indicates that TAS2R38 diplotype minimally modified the GI neoplasm risk. Given the limited study size and resources, further well-designed and larger studies are required to validate the true effect of TAS2R38 polymorphisms on neoplasm risk.

Discloure Statement

None of the authors has a conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning (grant no. NRF-2015R1C1A1A02036717, NRF-2015R1D1A1A09058684 and NRF-2018R1A1A1A05019155): and National Cancer Center, Korea (grant no. NCC1510040).