Growing evidences show that matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP1) plays important roles in tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis. MMP1 −1607 1G>2G is a single nucleotide polymorphism in the promoter region of MMP1 and affects MMP1 production. Analysis of previous studies on the association of −1607 1G>2G polymorphism with different cancer types remained to be illustrated. To further assess the effect of −1607 1G>2G polymorphism on cancer risk, we performed this meta-analyses, up to September 8, 2014, of 10,640 cases and 10,915 controls from 42 published case–control designed studies. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA 11.0 software. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of associations. ORs with 95 % CIs for the polymorphism MMP1 −1607 1G>2G and cancer were estimated using fixed and random effects models when appropriate. Significantly increased risks were found in overall under the models of 2G vs.1G, 2G2G vs. 1G1G, 2G2G/1G2G vs. 1G1G, and 2G2G vs. 2G1G/1G1G. Significantly elevated risks were observed in colorectal adenoma under the models of 2G vs. 1G, 2G2G vs. 1G1G, 2G2G/1G2G vs. 1G1G, and 2G2G vs. 2G1G/1G1G and lung cancer and head and neck cancer under the models of 2G vs. 1G. We found that significantly elevated risks were observed in Asian population and hospital-based studies in most comparison models tested. Thus, this meta-analysis indicates that the polymorphism MMP1 −1607 1G>2G is significantly associated with a significantly increased risk of cancers and may provide evidence-based medical certificate to study the cancer susceptibility.