Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene polymorphism is associated with increased risk of epithelial ovarian cancer.
BACKGROUND
Different studies indicate that immunological components play a key role in the development of cancer. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) is known to be critically involved in ovarian carcinogenesis and in other solid tumors. Therefore, we investigated the possible influence of the polymorphism of the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1 RA) genes on the development of ovarian cancer.


METHODS
In a prospective study we analyzed the polymorphism of the IL-1 RA gene in 108 women with ovarian cancer compared with 112 patients with benign gynecological diseases. Genomic DNA fragments were amplified by PCR.


RESULTS
The distribution of genotype frequencies was significantly different between the study and control group with respect to allele 1/2 heterozygotes (32.4% versus 15.2%; P = 0.004). Patients who were heterozygous at allele 2 for IL-1 RA (IL-RA 1/2) had a significantly higher risk of ovarian cancer with a calculated odds ratio of 2.7 (95% confidence interval 1.4-5.2). There were no differences between IL-1 RA 1/2 polymorphism and all other alleles in tumor stage (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics), histological type, grading, postoperative tumor volume, volume of ascites, recurrence status or age.


CONCLUSIONS
The allele 2 polymorphism of the IL-1 RA gene seems to play a role in the occurrence of ovarian cancer and should be investigated for screening and risk evaluation.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000483:Alleles; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010051:Ovarian Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
D017472:Receptors, Interleukin-1