title: -174 G>C polymorphism of interleukin 6 gene promoter affects interleukin 6 serum level in patients with colorectal cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Experimental data suggest that interleukin 6 (IL-6) plays an important role in the development and progression of metastasis from colorectal cancer (CRC), and -174 G>C polymorphism has been identified recently in the IL-6 gene promoter. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the significance of this type of polymorphism in patients with CRC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using enzyme immunoassay, IL-6 concentrations were measured in preoperative serum samples from 65 stage I-IV CRC patients. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and -174 G>C polymorphism detected using PCR, followed by NlaIII restriction enzyme digestion and electrophoresis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median IL-6 serum level was 0.14 pg/ml in patients with stage I-III disease versus 0.41 pg/ml in patients with stage IV disease (P < 0.001). DNA amplification was possible in 62 cases. On grouping genotypes at the -174 G>C locus as C+ (CC and CG) and C- (GG), a significant association was observed between the type of polymorphism and IL-6 serum level: the median value for IL-6 was 0.14 pg/ml in C+ patients (n = 32) and 0.32 pg/ml in C- patients (n = 30; P = 0.034). Moreover, in patients with hepatic metastasis the median level of IL-6 was 0.23 pg/ml in C+ patients (n = 9) and 0.96 pg/ml in C- patients (n = 9; P = 0.004).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with CRC, the -174 G>C polymorphism status of the IL-6 gene promoter affects the IL-6 serum level, particularly in the presence of hepatic metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncological and Surgical Sciences, University of Padova, Padova, Italy. claudio.belluco@unipd.it
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Belluco
authors.forename: Fabiola
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Olivieri
authors.forename: Massimiliano
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bonafè
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giovagnetti
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mammano
authors.forename: Romano
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Scalerta
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ambrosi
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: Donato
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nitti
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lise
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6