The present study aimed to assess any associations between resistin gene (RETN) polymorphisms and cancer susceptibility by conducting a meta-analysis. A comprehensive literature search was performed with PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus and Google Scholar for relevant studies published before April 2018. For the rs1862513 polymorphism, data from 9 studies covering 1,951 cancer patients and 2,295 healthy controls were included in this meta-analysis. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Our meta-analysis revealed that this RETN polymorphism significantly increased the risk of cancer in codominant (OR= 1.23, 95% CI= 1.01-1.50, p= 0.04, CG vs CC; and OR= 1.25, 95% CI= 1.03-1.53, p= 0.03, GG vs CC), dominant (OR= 1.19, 95% CI= 1.05-1.35, p= 0.006, CG+ GG vs CC), and allele (OR= 1.14, 95% CI= 1.00-1.30, p= 0.04, G vs C) inheritance genetic models. Stratification analysis by cancer type revealed that the rs1862513 variant significantly increased the risk of colorectal and breast cancer, and that cancer overall in Caucasians (OR= 1.22, 95% CI= 1.04-1.43, p= 0.02, CG+ GG vs CC; OR= 1.18, 95% CI= 1.04-1.34, p= 0.01, G vs C). The data revealed no correlation between the rs3745367 polymorphism and cancer risk. Further well-designed studies with larger sample sizes and different ethnicities are warranted to validate the present findings.