Meta‑analysis of the association between long non‑coding RNA maternally expressed gene 3 polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility

The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) polymorphism is associated with cancer risk, however, the results have been inconsistent. Therefore, the present meta-analysis aimed to explore the associations between MEG3 polymorphisms and cancer risk. Online databases were searched and reviewed up to December 2024 for eligible studies. Odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% CIs were calculated to assess the underlying association with genetic models. Furthermore, heterogeneity tests, sensitivity and accumulative analysis and publication bias assessment were conducted to evaluate the robustness of the results. There were 24 publications comprising 45 independent case-control studies included in the present meta-analysis. The pooled results revealed a markedly increased cancer risk with the A allele of the MEG3 rs7158663 G>A variant [for example, GA + AA vs. GG (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.14-1.56; P<0.01; I²=78.8%)] and consistent findings across several subgroups such as in in both Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE-yes and HWE-no groups, and both in East Asian and Middle Eastern individuals. Furthermore, a notable association was observed between rs11160608 A>C and cancer risk [for example, AC + CC vs. AA (OR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.01-1.33; P=0.04; I²=2.7%)], particularly in East Asian populations. No notable associations were identified for other polymorphic loci and cancer risk. In summary, the present meta-analysis suggested that the MEG3 rs7158663 G>A polymorphism may be a risk factor for cancer development.