This meta-analysis aimed to systematically review the evidence on cancer risk of the MMP-8 rs11225395 promoter polymorphism. Relevant studies published by 12 June 2019 were identified by systematically searching PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CNKI and Wanfang databases. R programs and STATA software were used to calculate odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). In total, 7375 cancer samples and 8117 controls were included by integrating 15 case-control data sets. Pooled estimates from the statistical analysis revealed no statistical significance for the association between this polymorphism and cancer risk. All pooled estimates resulting from subgroup analyses by cancer type and sample size were not materially altered and did not draw significantly different conclusions. The stratified analyses according to geographic region showed the statistical significance for increased cancer risk of the MMP-8 rs11225395 polymorphism in non-Asian populations under the allele model (OR = 1.11, 95% CI: 1.04–1.19), homozygote model (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 1.05–1.41), heterozygote model (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.07–1.36), and dominant model (OR = 1.21, 95% CI: 1.08–1.35). However, no statistical significance was detected in Asian populations. In conclusion, these findings suggested that the MMP-8 rs11225395 polymorphism is associated with elevated susceptibility to cancer in non-Asian populations.

This study highlights the unsuitability of relying on the ABCB1 rs1045642 and rs1128503 polymorphisms as therapeutic response biomarkers of Taxane-containing chemotherapy. Further polycentric studies in larger and multiracial populations are needed to validate the conclusions.