Association of toll-like receptors with the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma.

AIM OF STUDY: Association of toll-like receptors (TLRs) with the risk of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) from the published reports is still conflicting. This study was conducted to evaluate the relationship between TLRs and the risk of OSCC using meta-analysis method. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The association studies were identified from PubMed and Cochrane Library on April 01 2015, and eligible investigations were included and synthesized using meta-analysis method. RESULT: Three reports were recruited into this meta-analysis for the association of TLRs with OSCC susceptibility. In this meta-analysis, we found that TLRs were not associated with OSCC susceptibility. However, in the sub-group analysis, we found that TLR-7 was associated with OSCC risk. CONCLUSION: TLR-7 was associated with OSCC risk. TLR-7 might be an indicator to predict the OSCC risk. However, more studies should be conducted to confirm it.