Subgroup analysis based on cancer type indicated that the TERT rs10069690 polymorphism was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (OR = 1.07, 95% CI: 1.03–1.11, p‐heterogeneity < .001, I2 = 89.5%), ovarian cancer (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.10–1.19, p‐heterogeneity = .002, I2 = 70.8%), lung cancer (OR = 1.19, 95% CI: 1.03–1.36, p‐heterogeneity = .019, I2 = 66%), thyroid cancer (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.11–1.38, p‐heterogeneity = .243, I2 = 26.8%), and RCC (OR = 1.29, 95% CI: 1.07–1.55, p‐heterogeneity < .001, I2 = 0.0%). Here, TERT is linked to lung cancer.