Cytochrome P450 1A1 (
CYP1A1), an important phase I
xenobiotic metabolizing
enzyme, is responsible for metabolizing numerous
carcinogens, particularly
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The genetic polymorphism of
CYP1A1 at the site of MspI (
CYP1A1 MspI) has been implicated in
prostate cancer risk, but the results of individual studies remain conflicting and inconclusive. The aim of this meta-analysis was to investigate the association of
CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism with
prostate cancer risk more precisely. We performed a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure databases from their inception up to September 20, 2012 for relevant publications. The pooled odds ratios with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) were calculated to assess the association of
CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism with
prostate cancer risk. In addition, stratified analyses by ethnicity and sensitivity analyses were conducted for further estimation. Sixteen eligible publications with 6,411 subjects were finally included into the meta-analysis after checking the retrieved papers. Overall, meta-analysis of total studies suggested that individuals carrying the TC genotype and a combined C genotype (CC + TC) were more susceptible to
prostate cancer (OR(TC vs. TT) = 1.33, 95% CI 1.10-1.61, P(OR) = 0.004; OR(CC+TC vs. TT) = 1.27, 95% CI 1.05-1.55, P(OR) = 0.016). Stratified analysis of high quality studies also confirmed the significant association (OR(TC vs. TT) = 1.32, 95% CI 1.04-1.67, P(OR) = 0.024; OR(CC+TC vs. TT) = 1.30, 95% CI 1.02-1.66, P(OR) = 0.035). In subgroup analyses by ethnicity, a significant association between the
CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism and risk of
prostate cancer was found among Asians (OR(TC vs. TT) = 1.44, 95% CI 1.20-1.72, P(OR) < 0.001; OR(CC+TC vs. TT) = 1.33, 95% CI 1.12-1.58, P(OR) = 0.001), but not in Caucasians or mixed populations. The meta-analysis suggests an important role of the
CYP1A1 MspI polymorphism in the risk of developing
prostate cancer, especially in Asians.