Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) plays a critical role in human carcinogenesis. However, the association between TIMP-2 G-418C polymorphism and risk of cancer was reported with inconclusive results.A meta-analysis of 11 published studies involving 2,658 cases and 3,433 controls was performed to assess the strength of association using odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).The results indicated that no significant association between TIMP-2 G-418C polymorphism and cancer risk in overall population (GC vs. GG: OR = 1.26, 95% CI = 0.87-1.83; CC vs. GG: OR = 0.90, 95%CI = 0.50-1.63; GC/CC vs. GG: OR = 1.26, 95%CI = 0.87-1.82; C vs. G: OR = 1.19, 95%CI = 0.87-1.62). However, stratified analysis by ethnicity showed that TIMP-2 G-418C polymorphism was associated with cancer risk among Caucasian population (GC vs. GG: OR = 20.00, 95%CI = 9.90-40.38; GC/CC vs. GG: OR = 10.70, 95%CI = 1.11-103.20; C vs. G: OR = 14.98, 95%CI = 7.66-29.32) but not among Asian population.This meta-analysis suggests that TIMP-2 G-418C polymorphism may not influence the susceptibility of total cancer in overall population, but it was associated with cancer risk among Caucasian population.