Objective: The conclusions of published reports on the relationship between the glutathione S-transferase M3 (GSTM3) A/B gene polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer are still debated. This meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the association between GSTM3 and the risk of lung cancer.
Methods: Association investigations were identified from PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, and eligible studies were included and synthesized using a meta-analysis method.
Results: Eight reports were included into this meta-analysis for the association of GSTM3 A/B gene polymorphism and lung cancer susceptibility, covering 1,854 patients with lung cancer and 1,926 controls. No association between the GSTM3 A/B gene polymorphism and lung cancer was found in this meta-analysis (B allele: OR = 1.25, 95% CI: 0.89-1.76, P = 0.20; BB genotype: OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 0.71-3.32, P = 0.28; AA genotype: OR = 0.85, 95% CI: 0.59-1.23, P = 0.39).
Conclusions: The GSTM3 A/B gene polymorphism is not associated with lung cancer susceptibility. However, more studies on the relationship between GSTM3 A/B gene polymorphism and the risk of lung cancer should be performed in the future.