Gallstones and cholecystectomy in relation to risk of liver ... : European Journal of Cancer Prevention (original) (raw)

Research Papers: Gastrointestinal Cancer

aDepartment of General Surgery, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China

bDepartment of Biology, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA

Correspondence to Jie Lin, MD, Department of General Surgery, Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute, Cancer Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang 110042, China Tel: +86 135 142 12975; fax: +86 024 319 16220; e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

The association between gallstones or cholecystectomy and the incidence risk of liver cancer is controversial. This is a meta-analysis of observational studies on the role of gallstones or cholecystectomy in primary liver cancer. Relevant studies were identified after the literature search via electronic databases until June 2014. A random-effects model was used to generate pooled multivariable adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Heterogeneity among studies was evaluated using Cochran’s Q and _I_2 statistics. A total of 14 studies (four case–control, 10 cohort) were included in this study. Our study showed the pooled OR was 2.66 (95% CI: 2.05–3.28) for gallstones with liver cancer risk and OR was 1.47 (95% CI: 1.24–1.71) for cholecystectomy. Though there was obvious heterogeneity among these studies, the risk of incidence was consistent in the subgroup analyses and sensitivity analysis. The findings from meta-analysis provided that patients with gallstones or cholecystectomy had significant increased the risk of liver cancer, although the biological mechanisms underlying the link still need to be clarified.