Abstract Many studies have reported the association between the FASLG –844T/C polymorphism and cancer risk, but the data are remaining controversial. A pooled analysis was performed to assess this relationship comprehensively. Medline, PubMed, Embase and Web of Science were searched, and data were extracted and cross-checked independently by three authors. A total of 18 published studies including 22389 subjects were involved in this analysis. Overall, the –844C allele was associated with a significantly increased cancer risk (for CC versus TT: OR = 1.23, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.04–1.45; for CC + TC versus TT: OR = 1.15, 95% CI = 1.01–1.30; for CC versus TT + TC: OR = 1.20, 95% CI = 1.05–1.38). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, significantly elevated risks were found among Asians (for CC versus TT: OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.37–1.89; for CC + TC versus TT: OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.16–1.60; for CC versus TT + TC: OR = 1.44, 95% CI = 1.22–1.70). In the subgroup analysis by study design, significantly increased risks were found among population-based case-control studies (for CC versus TT: OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.06–1.84; for CC + TC versus TT: OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.01–1.55; for CC versus TT + TC: OR = 1.31, 95% CI = 1.06–1.61). These findings indicate that the FASLG –844C allele is emerging as a low-penetrant cancer susceptibility allele for cancer development. However, more comprehensive understanding of the association would certainly have an immense prospect in the promising field of individualised preventive care.