Objective: The cytochrome P450 17α-hydroxylase (CYP17) plays a vital role in androgen biosynthesis. A T-to-C polymorphism in the 5' promoter region of CYP17 has been implicated as a risk factor for prostate cancer, but the results of individual studies are inconclusive or controversial. To derive a more precise estimation of the relationship, we performed an updated meta-analysis from 31 studies based on 27 publications. Methods: A comprehensive search was conducted to examine all the eligible studies of CYP17 polymorphism and prostate cancer risk. We used odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) to assess the strength of the association. Results: Overall, individuals with CC/CT genotype were not associated with prostate cancer risk (CC vs. TT: OR = 1.03, 95% CI = 0.86-1.24, P = 0.72, Pheterogeneity < 0.0001; CT vs. TT: OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.87-1.12, P = 0.88, Pheterogeneity = 0.0006). In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, there was a significantly increased risk of prostate cancer among individuals of African descent under the recessive model (OR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.01-2.39, P = 0.04, Pheterogeneity = 0.65). Conclusion: This meta-analysis suggested that CYP17 polymorphism might be associated with prostate cancer risk among individuals of African descent.