Causal relationship between cathepsins and major salivary gland neoplasms: a bidirectional Mendelian randomization study

Observational studies have suggested a potential link between cathepsins and major salivary gland neoplasms (MSGNs), but the causality of this relationship remains uncertain. Mendelian randomization (MR) is a significant genetic method that employs single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) as instrumental variables (IVs). This approach reduces confounding effects, enabling the analysis of causal relationships between exposure traits and outcome diseases. This study aimed to explore the causal links between cathepsins and MSGNs by utilizing MR analysis.