To evaluate the association between x-ray cross-complementing gene 1 (XRCC1) genetic polymorphism Arg399Gln and prostate cancer risk using a meta-analysis.

A comprehensive search was conducted to identify all case-control studies of XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism and prostate cancer risk. Statistical analysis was performed using the software program Review Manage, version 4.2, and STATA, version 8.0.

We identified 7 eligible reports, 1733 prostate cancer cases, and 1756 controls. No significant associations were observed between XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism and the risk of prostate cancer in worldwide populations, without any between-study heterogeneity. In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, our results indicated a significant association and recessive genetic mode of XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism with prostate cancer risk in Asian subjects. Asians with the variant Gln/Gln allele were about 43% more likely to have prostate cancer than were those with the genotype Arg/Gln or Arg/Arg. However, our results also suggested that XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism was not significantly associated with prostate cancer in white men.

The results of the present meta-analysis have indicated that the XRCC1 codon 399 Gln allele might act as a recessive allele in its association with prostate cancer risk in Asians only.