Quantitative assessment of the associations between DNA repair gene XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and pancreatic cancer.

[BACKGROUND] Prior research exploring the correlation between the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and the susceptibility to pancreatic cancer has yielded conflicting outcomes. To date, there has been a notable absence of studies examining this polymorphism. The primary aim of the current investigation is to elucidate the potential role of the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism as a risk factor in the development of pancreatic cancer.

[METHODS] The comprehensive literature search was meticulously conducted across primary databases, including PubMed, Embase, and CNKI (China National Knowledge Infrastructure), spanning from the inception of each database through January 2024. To synthesize the data, a meta-analysis was performed using either a fixed or random-effects model, as appropriate, to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

[RESULTS] The analysis revealed significant associations between the XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism and an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. This was evidenced through various genetic model comparisons: allele contrast (T vs. C: OR = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.70-0.86, P < 0.001), homozygote comparison (TT vs. CC: OR = 0.71, 95% CI = 0.58-0.88, P = 0.001), heterozygote comparison (TC vs. CC: OR = 0.67, 95% CI = 0.52-0.87, P = 0.003), and a dominant genetic model (TT/TC vs. CC: OR = 0.68, 95% CI = 0.57-0.81, P < 0.001). Additionally, subgroup analyses based on ethnicity disclosed that these associations were particularly pronounced in the Caucasian population, with all genetic models showing significance (P < 0.05).

[CONCLUSIONS] The XRCC3 Thr241Met polymorphism has been identified as contributing to a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer in the Caucasian population. This finding underscores the need for further research to validate and expand upon our conclusions, emphasizing the urgency for continued investigations in this domain.