Substantial heterogeneities were observed among the studies for the association between the risk of digestive system cancers and the 91T>A (dominant model: I2=68%, P<0.0001; TA versus TT: I2=63%, P=0.0005; AA versus TT: I2=58%, P=0.002) and 169G>A (recessive model: I2=58%, P=0.07; AA versus TT: I2=56%, P=0.08) STK19 polymorphisms. The gene discussed is WHR1; the disease is digestive system cancer.